For months now, there has been plenty of talk about the San Diego Padres potentially trading Eric Hosmer and his bulky contract away. However, as the MLB trade deadline grows closer, it sounds like Hosmer will be staying in a Padres uniform.
San Diego Padres trade rumors: Eric Hosmer is staying in the Padres lineup
According to a tweet from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego Padres are expected to be active as the August 2 MLB trade deadline draws near, but “Trading Eric Hosmer is not one of those things” Acee tweeted about all of the activity surrounding the Padres.
Acee adds that Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto and Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras are still potentially part of those “things” that the Padres are attempting to do at the trade deadline. San Diego has been linked to both players, and even has the possibility of making a blockbuster trade with the Cubs for a pair of players.
A report came out in the preseason that the New York Mets turned down a deal that would have sent Hosmer and starting pitcher Chris Paddack to the Mets, so it hasn’t been that long ago that the Padres were looking to shed Hosmer and the rest of the $59 million owed to him as part of an eight-year, $144 million deal he signed before the 2018 campaign.
Heading into Saturday’s action, Hosmer was slashing .277/.341/.399 with eight homers and 40 RBI. He is one of five Padres with 40 or more RBI this season, showing that the 32-year-old Hosmer has been a key piece of a San Diego offense that is certainly missing the pop of Fernando Tatis Jr. (who has yet to play this season because of a wrist injury) in the lineup.
San Diego started Saturday’s home game against the Minnesota Twins 12.0 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West standings, but held the second-highest NL Wild Card position.
As the San Diego Padres continue to make a push for the postseason and envision what their roster might look like in that quest, Eric Hosmer seems to be a big part of San Diego’s plans for the rest of this season.