by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Boston Red Sox Announced On Friday, veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer has been designated for assignment to make room for right-hander Wyatt Mills on the 40-man roster.
Boston acquired Mills in a trade with the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Jacob Wallace.
The Red Sox acquired Hosmer, Max Ferguson, Corey Rosier and cash from the San Diego Padres at the 2022 trade deadline for pitching prospect Jay Groome. San Diego paid the minimum for Hosmer’s deal, saving Boston approximately $44 million, alex spier of boston globe informed at the time of the transaction.
If the Red Sox hadn’t designated him for assignment, they wouldn’t have had to pay Hosmer more than $760,000 in a season through 2025.
Hosmer spent seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals before joining the Padres in 2018. After winning four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger Award in Kansas City, Hosmer underperformed in San Diego, and the team initially tried to trade him. in the Juan Soto agreement. but he opted out of a trade with the Washington Nationals as part of his no-trade clause.
The 33-year-old appeared in just 14 games for the Red Sox in 2022, slashing .244/.320/.311 with four RBIs.
With Hosmer leaving Boston, Bobby Dalbec and Triston Casas are expected to be the Red Sox’ primary first basemen in 2023. Casas is the #2 Ranked Prospect in Boston’s system behind shortstop Marcelo Mayer.
Hosmer is the Red Sox’s second DFA player in the past two days, joining infielder Jeter Downs, who was drafted to make room for Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract.
Meanwhile, Mills is expected to join Boston’s bullpen. He made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2021 and appeared in 27 games split between the Ms and Royals in 2022, posting a 4.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
The Red Sox probably haven’t finished making moves this winter. After losing Xander Bogaerts to the Padres in free agency, the club has been bound to free agent shortstop Dansby Swanson. Also, Boston’s efforts to extend third baseman Rafael Devers are “intensifying.”
