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3 Padres players who need a comeback season in 2022

By Gabrielle Starr

Sep 29, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) reacts against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) reacts against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Padres Eric Hosmer
Sep 3, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (left) tosses his helmet after striking out to end the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Eric Hosmer

Eric Hosmer‘s 8-year, $144M contract was always crazy (the richest in franchise history at the time), but it’s gotten worse as it’s played out. The Padres have been “aggressively shopping” Hosmer for a while now, but no one wants to be the team that takes it on.

Hosmer’s batting average is a full 20 points lower over his first four seasons with the Padres than it was during his seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals. His on-base and slugging percentages are both 10+ points lower with the Padres, his OPS is 43 points lower, and his 102 OPS+ is barely above league average.

He’s never been much for power-hitting, but Hosmer only hit 12 home runs in 151 games last season. His career-high is 25 home runs, which he slugged in back-to-back seasons in 2016-17 with the Royals, right before his blockbuster contract with San Diego.

At this point, the Padres know what they’re getting with Hosmer, hence their repeated attempts to trade him. But since that seems impossible at the current juncture, all they can hope is that he stays healthy and keeps his numbers the same or slightly better than they were last year.

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