Eric Hosmer’s contract with the Padres contained a restricted no-trade clause, one which grew to become a central subject for a number of hours on the day of the deadline. Initially reported to be included within the Juan Soto/Josh Bell swap as a method of offsetting wage, Hosmer used his no-trade rights to block a move to a last-place Washington membership.
The Friars and Nats went via with the Soto swap, subbing in Luke Voit as a substitute. San Diego then pivoted and dealt Hosmer to the Pink Sox — a workforce that was not on his no-trade listing — together with minor leaguers Corey Rosier and Max Ferguson for pitching prospect Jay Groome. As a part of that swap, San Diego agreed to pay down all of the remaining cash on Hosmer’s contract minus the league minimal.
Hosmer nonetheless has three years and $39MM remaining on that deal, as he’ll actually bypass the possibility to decide out and retest free company this winter. For the subsequent trio of seasons, he’ll even have full no-trade safety. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe studies that Hosmer’s contract accommodates a stipulation that he’d obtain a full no-trade clause if San Diego traded him. The transfer to Boston triggered that provision, giving Hosmer management over any future motion.
Whereas it was onerous for the Padres to discover a taker for the 12-year veteran on his $144MM deal, a commerce from Boston isn’t troublesome to examine. With the Pink Sox not liable for any notable chunk of cash, they might market Hosmer to different groups for nearly no monetary penalty. Boston nonetheless wouldn’t obtain an immense return in that state of affairs, however he’d be a believable buy-low candidate for a workforce in search of a left-handed bat.
Hosmer hit .268/.334/.382 throughout 419 plate appearances this season. Whereas he was really much better towards left-handed pitching than righties in a small pattern this 12 months, he has extra typical platoon splits over a multi-year span. Relationship again to the beginning of 2020, he owns a .270/.346/.414 line whereas holding the platoon benefit. With San Diego on the hook for the wage, Hosmer’s strong bat towards right-handed pitching and robust clubhouse fame might have some attraction on the commerce market.
The Pink Sox determine to be open to parting with the 32-year-old, as Boston broke in prime prospect Triston Casas late within the season. Baseball America’s #19 prospect coming into the 12 months, Casas hit .273/.382/.481 throughout 317 plate appearances at Triple-A Worcester to earn an MLB name in September. Whereas he solely hit .197 in his first 27 MLB video games, the previous first-rounder slugged 5 residence runs and took 19 walks towards 23 strikeouts. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom praised Casas’ plate self-discipline final week (hyperlink through Christopher Smith of MassLive) and conceded he “(doesn’t) know but” whether or not Boston can be ready to dedicate energetic roster spots to each Hosmer and Casas. Every hits left-handed and is proscribed to first base or designated hitter. Whereas the Sox will see DH J.D. Martinez hit free company, they might actually retain Martinez or usher in one other bat in an effort to bolster a lineup that was a hair higher than common this season.
Boston’s restricted monetary commitments to Hosmer imply they presumably wouldn’t have any qualms about releasing him in the event that they felt they have been squeezed for flexibility by carrying a number of first basemen. It stands to purpose they’d want to commerce him for even a modest return than launch him altogether if it got here to that, however the revelation that Hosmer can block any deal provides a wrinkle to that potential state of affairs, though it’s actually one among which the Boston entrance workplace was conscious on the time they acquired him.
