Good morning, Mets fans. Here’s what’s been going on around baseball the last 24 hours.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the San Diego Padres have extended a seven-year contract offer to Eric Hosmer. The deal reportedly would be the largest deal handed out to a free agent in franchise history.
Hosmer hit .318/.385/.498 last season with 25 home runs and 94 RBIs. He also finished with 4.0 WAR and 135 wRC+. For his career, the one-time All-Star has hit .284/.342/.439 with a wRC+ of 111.
The first baseman has also won four Gold Glove Awards over the course of his career despite accumulating -21 defensive runs saved over the course of his career at first base, including -7 this past season.
Nightengale also reports that the Boston Red Sox have offered a five-year contract to free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez.
Martinez had a career year in 2017 as he hit .303/.376/.690 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs between the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks. That resulted in an elite 166 wRC+ and 4.1 WAR.
His drawbacks come in the field, though, as he has -32 defensive runs saved for his career.
The 30-year old began the off-season asking for a seven-year deal in the $210 million range. While this offer does not come within striking distance of that, the market for the outfielder has not progressed well so far and he might be forced to settle for a deal in this range.
Jon Heyman of the FanRag Sports Network predicted Martinez would get a six-year, $150 million contract at the beginning of the off-season.
Other MLB News and Notes
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Miami Marlins have had discussions with other teams regarding outfielder Christian Yelich and catcher J.T. Realmuto, though he hears nothing is imminent at this point.
Derek Jeter and crew have already shipped off Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna and Dee Gordon to cut back payroll this offseason.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-hander Dylan Baker from the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Baker, 25, has pitched as high as Double-A, which includes 13 games with the Akron RubberDucks of the Eastern League in 2017.
The Dodgers have also hired former big league pitcher Mark Prior as their bullpen coach, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. Whenever I think of prior, my mind goes to the Steve Bartman game.
The Cincinnati Reds have signed former Atlanta Braves infielder Phil Gosselin to a minor league deal, according to Chris Cotillo of SB Nation.
Gosselin appeared in 40 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers in 2017, hitting a dismal .146/.180/.188 across 50 plate appearances.
