Hosmer announced Wednesday via social media that he has retired from professional baseball.
In addition to confirming his retirement, Hosmer also announced the creation of his own media company, which will host his podcast. The 34-year-old's decision to bring an end to his playing days wasn't unexpected, as Hosmer had been a free agent since being released by the Cubs last May. A four-time Gold Glove winner and one-time All-Star, Hosmer ends his career with a lifetime .276/.335/.427 slash line to go with 198 home runs, 893 RBI, 812 runs and 76 stolen bases over 1,689 games across 13 seasons with the Royals, Padres, Red Sox and Cubs. He won his only World Series title with Kansas City in 2015.
Hosmer's struggles paired with the arrival of Matt Mervis pushed Hosmer off the Cubs' roster Friday. The Padres are still responsible for paying most of the $32 million left on his contract, meaning Hosmer will likely have plenty of suitors to pick from.
Hosmer was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Friday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
The 33-year-old first baseman was slashing just .234/.280/.330 through 31 games (100 plate appearances) this season and had barely seen the field since the promotion of Matt Mervis. Hosmer is still owed about $32 million on his contract, but the Padres are on the hook for the majority of that. Chicago signed him to a deal worth the MLB minimum in January.
