The Kansas City Royals signed catcher Salvador Perez to a new contract extension on Tuesday. On Monday night first baseman Eric Hosmer seemed open to remaining with the club long-term as well.
Hosmer signed a two-year, $13.9-million contract last offseason, which covers his first two years of arbitration eligibility. The slugger will enter his final year of arbitration next offseason and that's probably when the Royals will again engage in extension talks with the 26-year-old, if both sides are interested at that point.
The slugger said he wouldn't say no if general manager Dayton Moore approached him about a long-term contract. He also expressed optimism in the team when he said, "if this group stays together, the best opportunity [to win] is right here."
Hosmer will earn $8.25 million in 2016, so if he puts up another big campaign like he did in 2015 (.297/.363/.459 with 98 runs scored, 18 home runs and 93 RBI), he'll be due for another big raise in 2017. However, the Royals could instead open up extension talks with the three-time Gold Glove winner and attempt to keep him in Kansas City long term at a reasonable rate.
The only problem is Scott Boras is Hosmer's agent, and rarely does he negotiate contract extensions before his clients are eligible for free agency. Additionally, with the path Hosmer is seemingly taking en route to free agency, Boras will more than likely have him priced out of Kansas City's market unless the first baseman takes it upon himself to make it known he wants to remain with the Royals and make it work financially.
Boras doesn't care about hometown discounts, as we saw with the negotiations between Chris David and the Baltimore Orioles this past offseason (although it's clear Davis wasn't lobbying for a discount either), so Hosmer will have to speak up if he truly feels remaining in Kansas City is the best for his future.
It's unknown why type of deal Hosmer might be in line for, but with the way players are getting paid nowadays, he'll certainly have to step in and be active in any potential extension talks to help the Royals make this work financially.
