Padres sign Eric Hosmer to eight-year deal

The San Diego Padres have signed first baseman Eric Hosmer, according to San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kevin Acee. The Royals had been maintaining contact with Hosmer throughout the winter, but the Padres had intensified their contact last week.

The total value of the deal is worth $144 million, with the contract frontloaded so that Hosmer is paid $100 million over the first five seasons. If he chooses to opt-out, he will be 33 years old.

There were originally reports that Hosmer and his camp, led by super-agent Scott Boras, were seeking a $200 million contract. But a slow market quickly made it evident that would never materialize. Hosmer was reportedly seeking a nine-year deal this off-season, with the Royals offering seven. Bob Nightengale reported the Royals had offered seven-years, $147 million, but Sam Mellinger at the Kansas City Star disputed that. The Padres also reportedly made a seven-year offer, although they believed that the Royals had out-bid them.

The 28-year old Eric Hosmer was originally selected third overall in the 2008 draft by the Royals out of high school in Plantation, Florida. Since his debut in 2011, he has hit .284/.342/.439 in 1048 career Major League games, all with the Royals. He is a four-time Gold Glove winner and a two-time All-Star, winning the game’s MVP award in 2016. He is ninth in franchise history in hits, eighth in home runs, and 14th in Offensive WAR, according to Baseball-Reference.

The Royals will receive a compensatory pick after the first round for losing Hosmer. Combined with their pick for losing Lorenzo Cain, they should have the 33rd and 34th pick in this June’s draft, assuming Alex Cobb leaves the Rays and signs before June. They can also add a pick at the end of the first round for Mike Moustakas if he signs a deal worth $50 million or more by the June draft. If he signs a deal worth less than $50 million, they will receive a pick after the second round.