Hosmer agrees to deal with Cubs (source)
CHICAGO — The Cubs might need their first baseman of the longer term already in hand in slugging prospect Matt Mervis, however that hasn’t prevented the membership from addressing the clear want for reinforcements at that place for the upcoming marketing campaign.
On Wednesday, a supply advised MLB.com that the Cubs reached an settlement on a contract with veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer, who brings expertise to the sphere and depth to the roster as Chicago makes an attempt to tug out of its current rebuilding section.
The workforce has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a bodily. ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers first reported that the edges had an settlement.
Hosmer is a no-risk addition for the Cubs, given the veteran’s contract scenario. The Padres are required to pay out the rest of the eight-year, $144 million deal he signed with the membership previous to the 2018 marketing campaign. There are nonetheless three years and $39 million left in that contract for San Diego, which suggests Chicago solely must pay Hosmer a league-minimum wage.
In Hosmer, the Cubs add a World Series champion (2015), All-Star (’16) and a four-time Gold Glove Award winner (2013-15, ’17). The 33-year-old additionally provides one other high-contact bat, as Chicago continues to maneuver past its excessive swing-and-miss charges of current years. Hosmer is susceptible to floor balls as a hitter, however he has nonetheless proven the flexibility to show issues on offensively for stretches.
Last yr, he was considered one of baseball’s hottest hitters out of the chute, batting .377 with a .994 OPS by May 13. He then hit .222 with a .596 OPS in 73 video games the remainder of the way in which. Overall in ’22, Hosmer had a .268/.334/.382 slash line (.716 OPS) with eight homers, 19 doubles, 44 RBIs and a 108 OPS+ (eight p.c above common).
The Cubs produced a .223/.288/.339 slash line (.627 OPS) with a 69 OPS+ out of gamers used as first basemen final season.
Defensively, the superior metrics of current campaigns haven’t been sort to Hosmer’s work, regardless of his 4 Gold Glove Awards. Over the final two seasons mixed, he has produced minus-nine Defensive Runs Saved and minus-two Outs Above Average.
The Cubs had their eye on free agent José Abreu going into this offseason, however he signed a three-year take care of the Astros. With the Frank Schwindel experiment not figuring out, Chicago wound up with what supervisor David Ross described as “a big hole” at first base as a gaggle of gamers cycled by the spot down the stretch in 2022.
The North Siders do have Mervis (No. 21 on Pipeline’s Top 30 Cubs prospect record) coming quickly, however the purpose could be to not rush his arrival to the Majors. Last yr, the 24-year-old Mervis hit .309 with 36 homers, 119 RBIs and a .984 OPS throughout the High-A, Double-A and Triple-A ranges. He then added six extra homers with a .914 OPS with Mesa within the Arizona Fall League.
Mervis is anticipated to get a shot to crack the Cubs’ Opening Day roster this spring, however Hosmer helps add a layer of depth and insurance coverage, at the very least at the beginning of the season. The Cubs even have Patrick Wisdom, who’s an possibility at each infield corners, however who may additionally probably fill a platoon function with Hosmer at first. Last yr, Wisdom had a .557 slugging share in opposition to lefties.
