MLB Rumors: Eric Hosmer Has 2 Suitors

He's still earning $39M, courtesy of the San Diego Padres, but Eric Hosmer is a free agent looking for a new team. The Boston Red Sox DFA'd him earlier this month and he went unclaimed and was released. According to a new report, there are two teams who are pursuing the former All-Star and Gold Glover. 

Although he's from Miami, the Marlins aren't one of the interested parties, says MLB Insider Jon Heyman. The Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs are the two teams that have Hosmer on their radar. 

The Orioles would presumably use him as a backup to Ryan Mountcastle at first, while the Cubs could use another first base candidate. They already have Patrick Wisdom and even Cody Bellinger who can play first, but both are likely being counted on mainly in other positions (3B and OF, respectively). 

Hosmer is a former 3rd overall pick in the MLB Draft, and, although he didn't quite live up to that high billing, had a number of successful years (and a World Series win) in Kansas City earlier in his career, with one All-Star appearance and four Gold Gloves. 

But his 8-year, $144M contract with the San Diego Padres has been mostly a bust, and the Padres sent him to the Red Sox with 2+ years still remaining on the deal at the trade deadline this past August, while picking up the remaining $39M on his albatross contract. The BoSox had no further use for him after the season.