Kansas City Royals reported offer for Eric Hosmer is a mistake
The Kansas City Royals have reportedly offered Eric Hosmer a seven year contract worth $147 million. Such an offer would be a mistake.
At times, it seems as though the Kansas City Royals are minutes away from starting a GoFundMe to support their payroll. Riding high after their consecutive World Series appearances, Kansas City pushed its payroll to record highs, emerging as a part of MLB’s middle class. They spent large amounts to reel in Ian Kennedy and bring back Joakim Soria, hoping to continue their run of success.
Instead, the Royals found themselves hovering around the .500 mark, victimized by injuries and poor performances. However, in that time, Eric Hosmer began to develop into the offensive force that they had hoped for. He had hit 25 homers in each of his past two seasons, and produced a career best .318/.385/.498 batting line.
That production, coupled with his stellar defense, has made Hosmer one of the more coveted free agents in baseball. Yet, his market has been slow to develop, with only the San Diego Padres seemingly in hot pursuit. After their offer of what may be $140 million over seven years, the Royals have reportedly returned with their own offer, matching those seven years, but at $147 million over the term of the contract.
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If this contract offer is legitimate, then someone needs to check Dayton Moore into Arkham Asylum. We have seen numerous storylines detailing how the Royals are strapped for cash, looking to pare down their payroll. Anyone with any possible value is thought to be on the block, including potential franchise building blocks Danny Duffy and Salvador Perez. But they can afford $21 million per year for Hosmer?
Should this report be accurate, and the Royals are really making that offer to Hosmer, then they may as well go all in. Bring back Moustakas and Cain. Bring Greg Holland back home. Sign one of the top starters in the market, like Jake Arrieta or Yu Darvish. Damn the bottom line, and keep trying to get back to the Series!
However, that will not happen. If this offer really exists, then Hosmer would be a fool to let it pass by. And Moore would be certifiably insane for making such an offer, paying Hosmer as though he is one of the ten or 15 best players in baseball today. He means a lot to the Royals, but sentimentality should only go so far.
According to reports, the Kansas City Royals have offered Eric Hosmer a seven year contract worth $147 million. Such a contract would be sheer lunacy.