As MLB teams prepare for the 2023 season, the future of first baseman Eric Hosmer is still up in the air.
The San Diego Padres traded him to the Boston Red Sox before last year’s deadline, but Boston designated him for assignment and ultimately released him on December 22.
Evidently, MLB organizations are not confident in his ability to post decent numbers offensively, as he has been about average or below that mark ever since he left Kansas City in 2017.
Hosmer is already 33 and remains a defensive liability on top of his offensive struggles, so finding a team hasn’t been as easy as one might think.
However, a good opportunity could be around the corner for the former World Series champ.
“Eric Hosmer in talks with Cubs. Looks promising but no deal done yet,” MLB insider Jon Heyman tweeted a couple of days ago.
Eric Hosmer in talks with Cubs. Looks promising but no deal done yet.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 31, 2022
The Chicago Cubs want to compete in 2023 despite their mediocre 74-88 record in 2022.
With Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Cody Bellinger, there is the foundation of a competent lineup.
Tucker Barnhart, Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel can be average or perhaps a hair above, too.
New signing Jameson Taillon will be a good rotation mate for Kyle Hendricks, Marcus Stroman, Drew Smyly and Justin Steele.
First base, for now, is expected to be Wisdom’s, but if Hosmer can regain some of his offensive production from the past, he could make things interesting.
By wRC, he had his best season in 2017 at 135, right before free agency.
Since then, he had 128 in the pandemic season but has flirted with the league-average mark of 100 most of the time.
He has a lot to prove, but landing on a potential contender like the Cubs would be a good way to start the year.
NEXT: Should The Cubs Sign Eric Hosmer?