MLB free agency: Padres resume talks with Eric Hosmer

The Padres have resumed talks with top free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer and are more optimistic about their chances of signing him, sources told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Acee says that San Diego wants Hosmer bad enough that “they are essentially going to forfeit being big-time players in what is expected to be a banner free agent market next offseaaon.

So far, the Padres have offered Hosmer a seven-year deal -one of two he has received this offseason. The other one he received was from the Royals — the organization that drafted him back in 2008 with the third overall pick and. The figures of each offer have been disputed by Hosmer’s agent, Scott Boras, and in multiple reports. However, the Royals are making it a big “priority” to brIng Hosmer back to Kansas City.

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.