The Boston Red Sox designated Eric Hosmer for assignment, the club announced Friday.
The move comes after Boston acquired relief pitcher Wyatt Mills from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor-league reliever Jacob Wallace.
Hosmer has three years and $39 million left on his contract, the vast majority of which the San Diego Padres are paying. The Friars inked him to an eight-year, $144-million pact in February 2018. They dealt the first baseman to Boston at this year's deadline.
As a result, the BoSox owe Hosmer the minimum in each of the three years left on his contract for a total cost of just over $2.2 million. Boston will now either trade him or expose him to waivers - where he'd likely be released - in the coming days.
Hosmer, 33, was limited to 14 games with the Red Sox due to a back injury. He slashed .244/.320/.311 with no home runs, six runs scored, and four RBIs in that span.
The veteran became expendable because 22-year-old Triston Casas is in line to become Boston's future first baseman. Casas played 22 games with Boston this past season and 22 more in AAA.
Hosmer has slashed .277/.336/.428 with 196 home runs, 805 runs scored, and 879 RBIs over a 12-year career spent with the Royals, Padres, and Red Sox.
