MLB free agency: Eric Hosmer still pushing for 7+ years

People representing Eric Hosmer are still “pushing” for a deal of more than seven years for the top free-agent first baseman, a source told Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Hosmer has received multiple seven-year offers this offseason, one coming from the Padres and one coming from the Royals — the team he has spent his entire seven-year career with in the majors and the organization that drafted him back in 2008 with the third overall pick. The figures of each offer have been disputed by his agent, Scott Boras, and in multiple reports.

Morosi says that “the Royals’ need to re-sign him (and capacity to pay him) increased” after they traded Brandon Moss to the Athletics as part of a four-player deal. By making the trade, the Royals were able to shed $5 million of the guaranteed $8.25 million remaining on Moss’ contract.

Hosmer is coming off a 2017 season in which he posted career highs in WAR (4.0), batting average (.318), on-base percentage (.385), slugging percentage (.498), OPS (.882), hits (192) and games played (162). He also blasted 25 home runs for a second straight season while winning his fourth Gold Glove award and his first Silver Slugger award.

Along with the Royals and Padres, the Cardinals had also expressed interest in Hosmer. However, Hosmer’s camp wants to get as much money and as many years as it can for his deal because he is 28 years old and is in his prime years.