Former World Series Champion Linked to Cubs Again
If you look back through Eric Hosmer’s career, you’ll notice that even when he was in his prime and was a key part to the Kansas City Royals success in the mid-2010s, he still wasn’t a huge power hitter. His slugging percentage has never been above .500 and his career high in home runs in a season, which Hosmer reached in 2016 and 2017, was 25. Those power numbers have only declined since he signed with the San Diego Padres and now that he’s been dumped by the Boston Red Sox, the Cubs are reportedly interested in Hosmer.
Please, no.
And I understand that the Padres are paying the rest of his contract and the Cubs would only be responsible for the league minimum if they did sign Hosmer, but not only is he not good, he’s bad and there’s no reason to believe there’s any upside coming from him in 2023. Even his 2022 numbers are deceiving. Hosmer had a 104 wRC+ in 419 plate appearances, which fine, it’s above average, but much of that is weighted from his hot start in April. From May 1, through the end of the season, Hosmer played in 83 games, slashed .240/.305/.331, hit five home runs and had an 81 wRC+. He also missed six weeks late in the season with a back injury. He played in 104 games overall with the Padres and Red Sox and hit eight home runs.
Bad. Not good. Don’t want.
But apparently the Cubs are still one of the teams who have Hosmer on their radar according to Jon Heyman.
Via the New York Post.
While the hometown Marlins make some sense for Eric Hosmer, he’s on the radar of the Cubs and Orioles.
The thing is, Hosmer could end up being completely average, but he just doesn’t hit for power at all anymore. He’d be the designated hitter, while also getting some time at first base and I’d much rather have a guy who can actually be a threat in the lineup. We just saw an entire season of the Cubs desperately needing some pop and Hosmer would be more of the same soft contact shit. He only has 20 home runs combined in the past two seasons. That’s nearly 1,000 plate appearances of hitting like a 1980s middle infielder.
Oh and if Hosmer does have to play first base on a regular basis, just know that since 2016, he’s been the worst-rated defensive first baseman by outs above average, at -39. In that same time frame, Hosmer ranks second worst among qualified first basemen with -17 defensive runs saved.
Bruce Levine was the first reporter to link Hosmer to the Cubs last week. He noted how the Cubs may be leaning toward adding a left-handed hitter to their roster. Dominic Smith was also brought up by Levine. Don’t like that option either, but still would take a chance on Smith than Hosmer at this point.
Trey Mancini is still the guy that makes the most sense for the Cubs, but the only rumor we’ve seen about Mancini in the past day or so is the free agent supposedly talking with the Washington Nationals.
Right now, it’s starting to look like the best way to add an upside bat this offseason is through a trade.