Hosmer is owed the balance of his $13 million salary this season plus another $26 million from 2024-25. The San Diego Padres are paying just about all of that, however. The Boston Red Sox, who acquired Hosmer at last summer’s trade deadline and released him over the winter, owe him the league minimum from 2023-25. The Cubs only owe Hosmer the league minimum in 2023.

Once Hosmer clears waivers and is released, any team could sign him for the prorated league minimum. He does offer leadership skills and championship pedigree (including a World Series ring with the Royals, a Silver Slugger and four Gold Gloves), though Hosmer has been an average at best hitter for five years now. He may not draw much interest until another team suffers an injury and has a need at first base.

The Chicago Cubs filled a need at first base and designated hitter, giving free agent Eric Hosmer a one-year contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN on Wednesday.

Chicago will only have to pay Hosmer the minimum salary, according to the source, as he still has three years and $39 million left on a contract he signed with the San Diego Padres back in 2018. He was traded from the Padres to the Boston Red Sox last season, not long after San Diego acquired Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals. Hosmer was released by the Red Sox at the end of the year.

Hosmer, 33, has a career .764 OPS while spending his best seasons with the Kansas City Royals who he helped to a World Series title in 2015. Two years later, he signed an 8-year, $144 million deal with San Diego which runs through 2025. The Padres are paying most of that remaining salary.

The Boston Red Sox designated veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer for assignment on Friday to make room for right-hander Wyatt Mills, who was acquired from Kansas City for minor league righty Jacob Wallace.

Hosmer, 33, batted .268 with eight home runs and 44 RBIs last season, when he was traded to the Red Sox from San Diego. In a 12-year career with the Royals, Padres and Red Sox, Hosmer has batted .277 with 196 homers and 879 RBIs.