We’ve heard ongoing chatter about the possibility of first baseman Eric Hosmer striking a new deal with the Royals. Last we checked in, it seemed that talks weren’t active, though there are also indications the organization could weigh a contract after the season. Then, of course, there’s the matter of potential asking and offering prices, which drew headlines recently when Hosmer himself had to shoot down talk that he’d be seeking a decade-long guarantee.
In the aggregate, there’s little in the way of momentum toward an agreement between the Kansas City organization and their homegrown star. Neither is there much in the way of optimism, it seems, based upon the latest reporting from Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, who spoke with both Royals owner David Glass and Hosmer’s agent, Scott Boras.
Glass, who’s holding the checkbook in this situation, says that “it will be difficult” to find accord. His reasoning, though, is notable. While crediting Hosmer for his loyalty and saying that he “think[s] Hoz wants to stay here,” Glass suggested that the presence of Boras would complicate matters. While the owner didn’t specifically argue that Boras himself was a particularly problematic agent, he did suggest that Boras is subject to the same incentives as other representatives, and is therefore concerned with how his handling of Hosmer “affects his relationship with his other clients.”
For his part, Boras pushed back at any suggestion that Hosmer would be swayed away from his own self interest. “To suggest Hoz isn’t in total control of his decisions indicates someone has yet to notice that championship ring on his finger,” said the agent. As Mellinger well explains, there certainly seems to be a bit of underlying tension here, though Boras and the Royals have enjoyed a reasonably productive relationship in recent years.
If it’s hard for the Royals and Hosmer to find an agreeable range on a new deal, it’s equally difficult to do so from the outside. He won’t even turn 28 until October and has shown his talent at times at the game’s highest level, with three Gold Glove Awards, a top-25 MVP finish, and an All-Star Game appearance on his record. But Hosmer has also yet to establish himself as a consistently productive major league hitter. Over six full seasons in the big leagues, he owns a .277/.335/.428 slash that’s just about 7% above league average (by measure of both OPS+ and wRC+). As MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes explained yesterday, that makes Hosmer arguably “the most polarizing 2017-18 free agent,” and leaves the upcoming season as a critical barometer in determining his earning power.
I think he should top out at around Headley money. I think he will end up in the Brandon Belt rang
Headley money?
No wayyyy
He’s getting at very least a six year deal close to 100 million!
Did Headley get that?
I can’t tell if you’re joking or dumb
Or imitating lowtalker1
U have to juice to get Headley $
I am really curious what teams would value him at. His year last year was ok, but didn’t scream high payday. He’s a solid player, but consistency seems to be his biggest issue.
He actually is consistent . Consistently ‘okay’ as a first basemen. He has a great glove, an average bat and is good in the clubhouse. The Royals should capitalize on this and trade him for prospects as soon as possible. Here’s the problem- He won’t bring a great return. Sell Royals, sell.
It always makes m chuckle when fans comment on players clubhouse presence! How would you know? Hosmer will bring something of substance back..better then just losing him to FA.
He most certainly does not have a great glove.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=fld&#…
Don’t get all the hype about Hosmer.
He’s 21st in fWAR among first baseman since 2014.
Behind far less notable names such as Lucas Duda, Steve Pearce, Adam Lind and Cris Carter.
You would make an awful GM then
Why? Because Hosmer isn’t that good?
Yeah, Hoz sucks. I don’t know why any team would want a guy that has 3 GG’s in the past 4 years. Royals should just trade him for Manny Ramirez…..
I don’t think anyone is saying he’s the BEST 1b in baseball but he’s towards the top and while he doesn’t smack 50 HR’s a year, he’s proven to stay pretty healthy and will hit around .300. His rise in K’s last year is a “concern” to an extent but I’m ok with it. Stats wont show how many times he’s bailed someone out with his defense ability. No matter what stats you use, you don’t see what he actually brings to the table.
But staying in reality here instead of your “la la land”, he deserves to get paid more than what I’m thinking Moore is willing to pay. They bit the bullet for Gordo to stay in KC even though he’s on a decline so maybe they spend what, half their salary for those 2 alone lol
He’s only ever hit .300 once, in 2013 and last year he wasn’t close.
His Ks rose, his walk rate is uninspiring, he doesn’t hit for much power (.433 slg is pretty middling for a 1B) and for a guy who doesn’t run particularly well, he sure does hit a lot of ground balls (mostly into the shift) unless he can learn how to take a walk, hit more LD/FBs, and strike out less, his intangibles are nearly worthless in comparison to his below average hitting ability as a 1B
Last FIVE SEASONS:
– 18 hr down to 9 in four of five
– .300 twice, .270 down to .232
– as low as 58 rbi
– on base ranges from .363 to .304
– slugged as low as .359 (this is a first baseman?) up to .459
Wow. We’re using gold gloves, RBI and batting average now to determine a player’s worth? Teams don’t use those. Hosmer is Joe Mauer. A first baseman who is decent defensively but doesn’t hit like a first baseman. I could probably name ten first basemen better than him off the top of my head. I’d guess he stays in KC for a hometown discount after failing to get the hundred million contract he would never get. He’s a nice complementary player but no superstar.
Gold gloves don’t mean anything
Agreed. Decent first baseman with ok numbers. Hits WAY too many ground balls. He could benefit from a good hitting instructor if he could just find a way to quit swinging from his heels at pitcher’s pitches. Maybe if he went to Detroit and got JD Martinez to show him how to swing.
“no stat show how good he is, but i promise he is” gotcha.
He’s been a bad defensive and offensive first basemen, most certainly not near the top
2014-2016
Defense fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=fld&#…
Offense fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=bat&#…
Sorry, Manny is busy eating free sushi
Obviously a lot is riding on this season (Carlos Gomez seems to be proof of how one bad walk year can destroy your market), but I would guess that Hosmer’s combination of age, seeming positive clubhouse reputation around baseball, and the belief that defensive metrics don’t capture his true value push him beyond Belt. I would be surprised if he got less than Desmond got with a decent enough 2017
Being a Boras client, we know that Hosmer A) Will not sign an extension, and B) will be on the free agent market before signing for at least 2 months. The only things Hosmer’s 2017 performance will determine is how much he’ll be overpaid and for how long.
Being a Bora’s client means one thing, he will do whatever Hosmer wishes. If Hosmer really wanted to stay in KC, Bora’s would make it happen. If Hosmer wants to chase every dollar, Bora’s will do that and is fine making himself out to be the bad guy while he does what his client wants.
Well said sir!
top 25 mvp? I was unaware they voted that high
I think each ballot gets 10 votes. So he received a vote or two in the top 10
30 voters with a ballot that includes 1-10. It means he got one or two votes in the top 10.
Yeah, that’s quite a reach
He’s good, but my son would hit .340/.480/.760 with 45 HR and 60 steals. – LaVar Ball
I have never posted on a comment on any site before but this was funny sir.
He’s a nice player but plays a position that is oversaturated with talent. Reasonable production can be had at first base on very affordable 1 and 2 year deals.
Not saying he isn’t worth a multi-year deal, but saying that he has leverage because he has a ring on his finger isn’t true either.
If he has a monster year he’ll get a long term deal that will put him in elite company. If he is only average, he’ll have to settle for a 4/48 with an opt out and try again.
I don’t know if I’d call 1B market over-saturated with talent, there’s like 5 really good first baseman (not including Miggy and EE) and than maybe 5 or 6 more of those fringe guys who are going to give you sturdy, if unspectacular, production.
If you can get cheap, affordable, “sturdy, if unspectacular, production” then there’s no reason to pay elite money for a guy like Hosmer who doesn’t give you too much more. Save that money and invest it in your starting rotation.
What I said is true, reasonable production can be had at first base on very affordable 1 and 2 year deals. Hosmer then becomes a luxury that mid and small market teams can’t afford.
OVERRATED
Yeah, I would HATE to have a 3 time GG’er on my team. Especially since they were 3 in a row and 3 in the last 4 years. God awful! He wont be able to find a job on the Twins double A team probably 🙁
yup, lets make sure our FIRST BASE MAN plays good defense and not worry about offense.
Yes. Remember kids, you want to use your corner field and corner outfield slots on guys with flashy gloves that have bad UZR numbers and that hit about 55% ground balls because they like to swing at really bad pitches. Yep those gold gloves mean a lot b
lol three gold gloves
Maybe Hosmer is one of those guys that WAR doesn’t properly value, But, at his position, he looks like a slightly better than ordinary player–slightly. And I’m assuming Boras is looking for the top of top dollars. I’m intrigued by Glass’ reference to Boras representing others. Is he implying that Boras needs to set a high bar for an extension with Hosmer as a platform because he has other FA coming up?
get what you can while you can. this guy is good but that is it. middle of the road. his D at fist base, meh, who cares lots of guys can play solid D at 1b, its that OPS that is brutal and seeing how he is in a power position, yikes. move on KC while you can.
Ladies and gentlemen… The next Jason Hayward!
Heyward is actually a really good defender though and was at least above average offensively before last year. Hosmer has had 3 bad seasons in the past 5
And plays a position higher on the defensive spectrum.
There were people on the Kevin Kiermaier extension story questing his new 6/$53.5 million contract because they don’t believe his bat is enough, even though he is the best defensive player in baseball at a premium position. Over the past 3 seasons, KK has a 105 OPS+ and .167 ISO, while Hosmer has a 108 OPS+ and .154 ISO while rating in the bottom third of both DRS and UZR among first basemen. The thought that some team might give him $100+ million is crazy.
If Hosmer were playing for a team, like, say, the Brewers….we wouldn’t even be discussing his free agency status. He’s a product of his team environment. Sure numbers can lie….but they dont lie to the point of covering up that whopping .2 war outside of that slightly over 2 war in 2014.
Gold gloves really aren’t a great indicator because offense seems to weigh on them. Yost says he doesnt have range…he does scoop well.
For what reason would you not include Miggy and EE?
I wonder if the timely hitting and Hosmer’s contribution to Team USA in the WBC will help contract talks to stay in KC?
Better first basemen than Hosmer: Myers, belt, Agon, Goldschmidt, Votto, rizzo, freeman, chris Davis, abreu, miggy. Maybe Edwin and Pujols.
Hosmer is definitely in an unusual situation. Fangraphs did an analysis and found that no first baseman has played in as many games and had at many at bats and, yet, underperformed as Hosmer. That is definitely not saying he’s bad or even below average. What it’s saying is that guys who have played as much as him usually produce better numbers. I’ve also heard analytic people claim he’s the worst gold glover there is.
This puts poor Hosmer is an unusual position – he’s either a high-end average player or a low-end star, but he’s definitely not bad. Still, there is a lot of upside to Hosmer. He’s a stand up guy. He’s a clutch hitter (I believe he had more RBIs in the 2015 postseason than hits). He is consistent and rarely hurt. He brings value that can only measured qualitatively , something you never see in baseball research. I think if the Royals can get him to sign a Gordon or Duffy like contract ($15-$17 million over 4-6 years), they should pull the trigger. I would even consider an 8-10 at $10-$12 million a year, but that might be too low for Hosmer. It’s a sad reality of baseball that well-run and well-intentioned teams are limited by economics. Whatever happens, I wish him the best.
Hosmer might have excellent qualitative value, but it’s the mediocre quantitative values that give teams pause. Meaning that he’s measurably average or close to.
And in no universe should he be paid anywhere close to $100 million. Someone might be willing to take chance on his potential, but not in a 8-10 year deal.
No first baseman has played in as many games, yet hit as poorly? How does that equate to average? Seems to me he has no true skill….not even a true power skill like a chris carter or mark trumbo. He’s basically James Loney without maybe even the defense. Swing is long and loopy….hes had questionable eye sight in the past. This isnt a guy you pay for….and the Royals certainly can’t afford to pay players who have little value over PR. Im in the KC market…these guys are heros around here….but the baseball matters. They basically had an average offense and an insane bullpen. Even guys like Moose arent really well established big leaguers…..they won quick….and its made people forget the Omaha shuttle they were on. Team was a built for and a product of he current playoff system. Good times….but KC doesnt need another long drought because they strapped themselves financially to mediocrity. Good team…but not necessarily stellar individual players.
Hosmer is 28….better go short term on that potential. He has more value to KC than he would anywhere else….he’s marketable in KC…and he’s bearable so long as they put baseball emphasis around him on the field. Big mistake if they get nostalgic and try and lock up some player that are fairly average. Fans love Hosmer….that’s worth something…but keeping the gang together for the sake of it spells doom.
Hosmer has no range…gold glove doesnt mean a lot actually as they are notoriously an award that also weighs offense and notoriety. Jeter won some when he wasn’t even an average defender. Hosmer scoops…thats about all. Where’s the Royals fans that were insanely analytical during the rebuild? They should be all over the Hosmer stigma. Tough having an offense full of average that rode a stellar bullpen..and quit honestly got lucky in some key playoff situations.
He’s a complimentary player on a franchise that is looking at a rebuild and doesn’t really need an overpriced complimentary player. I was ASTONISHED when I started digging into his numbers.
Yeah. He’s pretty pedestrian. Loney deluxe.
Well run? I grew up around KC and witnessed the drought from about 1990-2004…Ewing Kauffman ran the team like a public trust….David Glass runs it like Wal Mart. They had high picks that turned into everyday players and an outstanding bullpen. If their system was good….theyd be replacing the Hosmers and Moustakas. The thing is…THEY dont probably know how they did it.
“No first baseman has played in as many games, yet hit as poorly? How does that equate to average?”
Simple. If Hosmer averages .272 and 160 games a year over five years, that puts him way above average for all at bats by all first basemen over the same time period, but low for guys who average the same number of games (160). Think of the at bat as the unit of analysis, not the player.