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As the most uneventful offseason of all time draws to a close, A.J. Preller has finally pulled the trigger and signed free agent Eric Hosmer. The Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee broke the news tonight, with Jon Morosi dropping the first tidbits about the contract.
Eric Hosmer has agreed to an 8-year contract with the #Padres that includes an opt-out after 5 years, source says. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 18, 2018
That is a long contract, and you’d have to be crazy to expect much out of the Friars’ new first baseman at the end of his tenure. But the Padres are banking on their loaded farm system paying dividends in the next couple of years, when a strong bat and veteran leadership at first base could prove useful. How much will it cost the Seidlers?
Sources: Hosmer to #Padres is for 8 years, opt out after 5, front-loaded deal: $20 million each of first 5 years, $13 mil each of last three years, AAV $18 mil.
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) February 18, 2018
Well, it’s not my money, and you can’t put a price on pennants. This likely means a move back to corner outfield for Wil Myers, a change which will cause ripples throughout the lineup. With spring training already underway, it’ll be interesting to see what else Preller has up his sleeve.