Eric

Hosmer

The eight-year, $144 million contract signed with the Padres runs through 2025, but since he was released by the Cubs last season, he’s already getting that in full. Hosmer hit .276/.335/.427 with 198 homers and 893 RBI for the Royals, Padres, Red Sox and Cubs in his 13 seasons. He was a key part of the Royals’ World Series victory in 2015, but his best season was in 2017, when he hit .318/.385/.498 with 25 homers.

Hosmer is officially a free agent after being designated for assignment last week by the Cubs. The 33-year-old veteran first baseman batted just .234/.280/.330 with two homers in 100 plate appearances over 31 games before the arrival of slugging prospect Matt Mervis ultimately forced him off Chicago’s roster. There should be plenty of teams interested in him, especially since the Padres are still paying his salary for a couple more years.

It was just a matter of time after Hosmer was recently shifted into a bench role with Matt Mervis’ call-up to the majors. The 33-year-old hit just .234/.280/.330 with two homers over 100 plate appearances with the Cubs. He’ll probably get another chance somewhere, but it doesn’t look like there’s much more left in the tank here.

The pitch appeared to be a strike, but that’s probably not the only thing frustrating Hosmer right now. He went 0-for-3 with a walk today in his first appearance since Tuesday.

Mervis is set to get most of the playing time at first base, as Cubs manager David Ross said they are hoping to get an “offensive jolt” in the bottom-part of their lineup. It’s the right move for the Cubs, as the 33-year-old Hosmer is hitting just .250/.294/.363 with two home runs across 85 plate appearances this season.

It’s not a big surprise to see Hosmer sitting against lefty Jesus Luzardo, though it’s not like he’s doing a lot against right-handers either. Trey Mancini will start at first base and Nelson Velasquez will serve as the designated hitter. Cody Bellinger is back in center field and Patrick Wisdom will play third base.

Hosmer was lifted for a pinch-hitter during Thursday’s series opener at Wrigley Field, and also wound up sitting out Friday’s game, so it’s an encouraging sign that he’s not dealing with some sort of unreported injury. The 33-year-old veteran first baseman is batting .240/.309/.340 with one homer and 10 RBI through 16 games this season in his Cubs debut.

Hosmer got the scoring started in the ballgame with a two-out RBI single off of left-hander Andrew Heaney in the opening inning that plated Dansby Swanson from second base. Hosmer also had a one-out single off of Heaney in the fifth inning. The 33-year-old has had a decent spring, hitting .275 (11-for-40) with six RBI -- though he’s still in search of his first home run.

Hosmer opened the scoring in the ballgame with his one-out RBI double off of Luis Castillo in the opening inning, plating Nico Hoerner from first. He then popped out to second and grounded into a double play in his other two plate appearances. On the spring, the 33-year-old is hitting just .231 (3-for-13) in the early going with zero home runs and a pair of RBI.

The deal, which was originally agreed to earlier this month, is now official. Hosmer will make the major league minimum in Chicago this season after splitting last year between the Red Sox and Padres, batting .268/.334/.382 with eight homers across 419 plate appearances. The 33-year-old first baseman, who is still being paid nearly $39 million by the Padres moving forward, is unlikely to make an impact for fantasy managers and represents more of a temporary stopgap solution for the Cubs at the cold corner until some of their younger prospects, most notably slugger Matt Mervis, are ready to take over the spot permanently.