Report: Hosmer has 7-year, $147M offer from Royals

The Kansas City Royals won't let Eric Hosmer move to the West Coast without a fight, apparently.

Amid reports that the San Diego Padres have a seven-year offer out to Hosmer, the Royals have, too, offered Hosmer a seven-year, $147-million contract to return to Kansas City, persons close to the highly-coveted free agent told Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. The Padres' offer, those sources indicated, is worth $140 million - $1 million less, per year, than the Royals' offer.

Hosmer, who turned 28 in October, is thought to be seeking an eight- or nine-year deal, however, and some believe his agent, Scott Boras, will push for $200 million. Moreover, were the Padres to sign Hosmer, who turned down a one-year qualifying offer from the Royals, the club would also forfeit its third-highest pick in the 2018 draft.

Selected third overall by the Royals in the 2008 draft, Hosmer enjoyed the finest season of his career this past summer, setting new career highs in WAR (4.1) and wRC+ (135) while hitting .318/.385/.498 with 25 homers in 162 games. Though he was wildly inconsistent at the plate throughout his seven-year stint in Kansas City, Hosmer still managed four Gold Glove awards, one All-Star nomination, and one Silver Slugger during his tenure with the Royals, and helped push the club to a World Series championship in 2015.

Hosmer is one of several longtime Royals to become a free agent this winter, hitting the market along with center fielder Lorenzo Cain, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar, and left-hander Jason Vargas.