MLB: Padres make a splash with eight-year, $144M deal for Hosmer
PEORIA, ARIZ.— Just the thought of free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer joining the downtrodden, youthful San Diego Padres sent a morning jolt through the spring training clubhouse.
The on-field vibe seemed equally cheery, as country music blared as players went to work under sunny skies in the Arizona desert.
Hosmer reached a preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract with the Padres, pending a physical early this week. The veteran, who spent his first seven major league seasons with Kansas City, would receive a reported $144 million (U.S.).
While the final position players reported Sunday — most were already in spring camp — ahead of Monday’s first full-squad workout, Hosmer wasn’t expected in the des- ert until at least Monday.
The 28-year-old Hosmer batted a career-high .318 in 2017 and matched his best from the previous season with 25 home runs. A four-time Gold Glover and all-star in 2016, he drove in 94 runs and scored 98 for the Royals last season. He also had a career-best .385 on-base percentage.
While most every club feels a sense of optimism this time of year with a fresh slate as spring training begins, the Padres were especially upbeat as they got going early Sunday at the idea of the power-hitting Hosmer in their lineup and at first base.
San Diego went 71-91 last season for fourth in the NL West, above only the San Francisco Giants, and the Padres haven’t been to the playoffs since losing in the 2006 NL Division Series.