Report: Padres have discussed signing Hosmer

One unexpected team has joined the list of suitors interested in the services of free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer.

The San Diego Padres have discussed the idea of signing Hosmer this offseason, major-league sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Although the Padres began 2017 with a $69.6-million payroll - its lowest since 2013 - the organization could conceivably spend big on Hosmer, hoping he'll maintain a high level of production by the time the club has passed its rebuild.

Hosmer is the most polarizing of all free agents due to his inconsistency from year-to-year. Despite performing to a career-best 4.1 WAR in 2017, the first baseman was a below-replacement level player the year prior, finishing with minus-0.1 WAR in 158 games. To his credit, Hosmer did hit .318/.385/.498 in his contract season, and is expected to command a new deal in the five or six-year range worth anywhere from $100 to $130 million.

The 28-year-old has also drawn interest from the Boston Red Sox and his former team, the Kansas City Royals.