Free to decide on his 2023 workforce, Eric Hosmer took observe of the National League Central.
He believes it’s a wide-open division, which made the Chicago Cubs a beautiful vacation spot between his familiarity with among the teaching workers and their offseason additions.
“When you look at the team, you look at the middle of the field with Nico (Hoerner), Dansby (Swanson) and then Cody (Bellinger) out there in center and you just say, ‘Wow, that’s a heck of a defense right there,’” Hosmer mentioned over the weekend on the Cubs Convention.
“And you just know that when you play those games, especially meaningful games late in the season and in October, you can’t give away free outs, you can’t give away a free 90 feet. And when you see the guys that they have on the defensive side, you see that’s just not going to happen here. So definitely appealing.”
Hosmer, 33, is coming off a difficult 12 months that included a commerce from the San Diego Padres and offensive inconsistency coupled with a low again damage that restricted him to 14 video games with the Boston Red Sox.
Hosmer referred to as it a loopy scenario to depart San Diego when “you really don’t expect to get traded and you get traded.” He initially was going to be dealt to the Washington Nationals, however a no-trade clause in his contract allowed him to veto the deal.
The Red Sox launched him after the season, resulting in a one-year contract with the Cubs. Hosmer will get alternatives at first base and designated hitter.
“It’s kind of like a new life, and you want to make the most of every opportunity — and for this opportunity for me personally, I feel like it’s a great one,” Hosmer mentioned. “The foremost factor everybody says, particularly across the league, is once you play at Wrigley Field it feels just like the state championship each sport. It’s only a completely different vitality. It’s a special environment.
“Maybe (a change of scenery) is a good thing. I didn’t play much baseball in the second half of last year. I was hurt in Boston and carried that to the end of the offseason. So that’s a good reset for me. And now to parlay that with signing here in Chicago, that’s enough motivation as you can have.”
International newbie signings
The Cubs have been energetic among the many prime expertise because the worldwide newbie signing interval started Sunday.
They have signed three of the highest 20 worldwide prospects: 16-year-old shortstop Derniche Valdez from the Dominican Republic ($2.8 million bonus, ranked No. 6), 17-year-old shortstop Ludwig Espinoza from Venezuela ($1.5 million, No. 14) and 17-year-old shortstop Angel Cepeda from the Dominican Republic ($1 million, No. 19). As of Monday, the workforce had not formally introduced any worldwide signings.
The Cubs have a $5,284,000 allotment for his or her worldwide signing pool. The worldwide signing interval stays open till Dec. 15.
World Baseball Classic alternatives
Cubs first base prospect Matt Mervis is getting ready for an atypical spring coaching.
Mervis was included on Team Israel’s preliminary expanded roster for the World Baseball Classic, and he expects to play within the event after getting clearance from the Cubs. Israel basic supervisor Peter Kurz indicated to Mervis he might be on the ultimate WBC roster.
“It’s really exciting for me, it’s an honor for me and I want to make my family proud, I want to make Team Israel proud,” Mervis mentioned. “Getting that have taking part in in a giant atmosphere like that, I imply, it’s in Miami, so their crowds are going to be loud and excited.
“It was really a no-brainer for me. The only thing I had to consider was if the Cubs wanted me to leave or were willing to allow me to leave Arizona and go have that experience, and they supported me and allowed me to make the decision.”
Mervis just isn’t stressing about attempting to show he deserves to be on the Cubs’ opening-day roster.
“I’m going to approach it how I did during the season and just try to wake up every day and have a good day of baseball,” Mervis mentioned over the weekend. “I’m not going to put any extra pressure on myself trying to make the team by having a great game and spring training because those guys are smarter than that. They’re not going to see me hit a home run or whatever and say, yeah, he’s ready to go. Obviously they’re going to do a little bit more work than that and evaluate things however they need to.”
The additions of Hosmer and Trey Mancini probably will forestall Mervis, 24, from beginning the season in Chicago. He may get a shot in some unspecified time in the future in 2023, particularly if he will get on a roll and places up the numbers he did final season, when he tallied 40 doubles, 36 dwelling runs, a .379 on-base share and a .984 OPS in 137 video games as he progressed via three ranges.
Owen Caissie confirmed Saturday he’s on Team Canada’s preliminary WBC roster. The 20-year-old outfielder discovered about two weeks in the past he can be included on the preliminary roster.
“I’m just really excited for the opportunity to represent my country,” Caissie mentioned. “I was hopeful. I knew it was a possibility. But as soon as I got the call, I was pretty happy.”
Team Canada will work out on the Cubs facility in Mesa, Ariz., within the lead-up to WBC pool play, which begins March 11 for that group. The Cubs will play Team Canada in an exhibition sport March 8 at Sloan Park.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com