3 Cubs trades to find a first baseman for the 2023 season
By Tim Boyle
2) Cubs trade for a first baseman: Eric Hosmer from the Red Sox
Eric Hosmer to the Cubs has been a talking point for a while. Last winter and even into the regular season, when he was a member of the San Diego Padres, there was some thought that he could end up there. It could have even occurred in a three-team deal with the Cubs that would have landed the veteran first baseman for not much at all.
Things haven’t changed all that much in regards to Hosmer’s value. Now a member of the Boston Red Sox, he’s someone the Cubs should consider.
The contractual situation with Hosmer is certainly interesting. The Padres are paying most of his $13 million salary for the next three years. The Red Sox have a nearly free first baseman. Why would they ever want to move on from him?
Hosmer is blocking prospect Triston Casas at first base. With Hosmer, the problem in Boston is the space he occupies on the roster. It has nothing to do with the salary San Diego was hoping to shed the moment the ink on the deal was dry.
Boston’s offseason situation remains a bit unknown. This could be a winter where they take a step back, regroup, and then make a charge toward the 2024 season. They’ve already lost a lot of players in free agency. They don’t look quite ready to compete next year, although they have surprised us before.
A team like the Cubs, one with some big holes to fill, should consider Hosmer more than ever now that his salary isn’t going to get in the way of making even bigger additions. The cost shouldn’t be too extreme either.