Eric Hosmer, one of the most sought-after free agent this season, signed with the San Diego Padres on Monday to a $144 million, eight-year contract, but not without controversy.
After Hosmer signed the deal, which is the largest in the Padres history, Ned Yost, general manager for the Royals, Homer’s previous team, said Hosmer hasn’t texted him even though Hosmer claimed he did in an interview with MLB Network.
“I didn’t hear from him, even when I was on my deathbed,” Yost told The Kansas City Star. Yost was referring to his near-death experience where he fell from a deer stand in November 2017 and broke his pelvis.
Hosmer immediately shot back.
“Well, first of all, I’ll question his ability to use a cell phone, because he said I hadn’t reached out to him, and I’ve got the text messages on my phone that have conversations with us,” Hosmer told The Star.
Right now it’s a he-said, he-said situation, but it’s giving Royal fans some chuckles. Hosmer spent the last seven seasons in the majors with Kansas City.
With the Padres, Hosmer will get $5 million signing bonus after the contract has been approved by the commissioner’s office. He will earn $20 million each year from 2018-2022 and $13 million from 2023-2025. Hosmer can opt out after five years.
“I’ve had a few good moments in my career in San Diego up to this point, I look forward to having a lot more great moments,” Hosmer said. “It was fun to get the vision and see where San Diego is trying to lead this young group of guys.”
