Former Kansas City Royal first baseman Eric Hosmer has signed a one-year, $720,000 deal with the Chicago Cubs, in hopes of rejuvenating a career slowed by recent subpar seasons in San Diego and Boston. The signing continues a busy offseason for the Cubs, who have inked All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson, right-hander Jameson Taillon, outfielder Cody Bellinger, reliever Brad Boxberger, and catcher Tucker Barnhart since the end of the regular season.
Hosmer is still being paid by the Padres, after leaving Kansas City in February 2018 for an eight-year, $144 million contract with San Diego. In the summer of 2022, Hosmer was traded to Boston, only to be designated for assignment in September. His numbers in 2022 were well below his career norms, with a batting average of .268 with eight homers and 44 RBI’s over 104 games.
Drafted by the Royals with the #3 overall pick in the 2008 draft, Hosmer was a key cog in a Kansas City surge to the top of the majors, with back-to-back World Series appearances, and a five-game victory over the Mets in 2015, giving KC its first world championship since 1985. With the Cubs, Hosmer could split time at first base with rookie Matt Mervis, who is expected to be in the majors in 2023 after smashing 36 homers combined with three Cubs minor league affiliates last year.
In a related story, the Cincinnati Reds have released former Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, with $22 million remaining on his contract. “Moose”, drafted second overall by the Royals in the 2007 draft, has struggled since leaving Kansas City, with only seven homers in 2022, with a paltry .214 batting average and 25 RBI’s in 78 games. He is a three-time All-Star with stops in Kansas City and Milwaukee prior to his time in Cincinnati. The 2022 Reds had the franchise’s worst record in four decades last season, with a 62-100 record leading to continued rebuilding efforts from the team’s front office.
Photo credit – Arturo Pardavila / Wikimedia Commons / Kansas City, MOÂ