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MLB trade rumors: Top 25 trade assets for deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 25, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals first basemen Eric Hosmer (35) runs to second base against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals first basemen Eric Hosmer (35) runs to second base against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Eric Hosmer

Excuse me while I make a brief hot take that will probably upset most Royals fans — Eric Hosmer is more valuable to his current team than he would be to any other team in the league. That’s not to say he is not a solid first baseman, but he is being set up to become the next Jason Heyward, a player who signs a massive contract in free agency based on expectations of what they may become in the future.

When Heyward hit free agency, team lined up to give him close to $200 million because they believed he would eventually hit 25 home runs. Hosmer does have a 25-homer season on his resume, but his career OPS of .767 is far below elite levels for a first baseman. The Royals do play in a very pitcher-friendly stadium, but Hosmer has only slugged 16 points higher on the road in his career.

Hosmer actually suffered a drop in OPS of over 50 points from 2015 to 2016 despite the increase in home runs. If he has to sacrifice his ability to hit .300 to hit more home runs, that tradeoff may not be worth it. I’ll stop dumping on Hosmer now because I do think he is a very good player and would make any contender immediately better if the Royals decide to go in the direction of a rebuild. The Yankees stand out as a great fit, and they desperately need a first baseman.

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