Royals owner: Extension with Hosmer 'will be difficult'

For virtually his entire adult life, Eric Hosmer has been a member of the Kansas City Royals organization.

Selected by the Royals with the third overall pick in the 2008 draft, at age 18, Hosmer made his debut in Kansas City three years later, helping the club to a World Series championship in 2015, and earning his first career All-Star berth the following season.

At this time next year, however, Hosmer will likely be sporting a different uniform, according to team owner David Glass, who indicated it will be tough to work out a contract extension with the soon-to-be free agent - a client of Scott Boras.

"I think it will be difficult," Glass told Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. "I think Hoz wants to stay here, and I think he's very loyal to our organization. But at the same time, these guys have agents that want to get the best deal for them. Hoz has (Scott) Boras, and if Boras doesn't get a really good deal for Hoz, then it affects his relationship with his other clients.

"They sort of set a standard with each one of their clients. So I think we'll have a difficult time with Hosmer."

Indeed, though preliminary extension talks have taken place, Hosmer's contract demands may not align with Kansas City's plans for the future, both short-term and long-term, as FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported last month that the Royals anticipate he'll seek a 10-year deal in free agency.

Hosmer, who turned 27 in October, insisted shortly after that report surfaced he "never said anything about a 10-year deal," but he did strongly intimate his desire to explore the open market. If he doesn't reach an agreement with the Royals before Opening Day, Hosmer suggested, he's going to test free agency.

"It’s hard to make it to free agency," Hosmer said. "It’s a right that every player earns if they make it that far. We are talking about certain extensions, stuff like that. But the way I see it right now, I just want to make it that far. And if I do make it that far without signing anything, I feel like I deserve that right to see what’s out on the market."

“It’s not cutting this place out completely. It’s earning the right to see what else is out there, seeing my options, seeing what would be the best possible situation for me.”

Since debuting with the Royals in 2011, when he finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting, Hosmer has been worth a total of 5.6 WAR, hitting .277/.335/.428 (107 OPS+), while averaging 17 homers, 29 doubles, and 148 games per season.