One of the most sought-after free agents on the market will no longer be taking offers after signing an 8-year deal with the San Diego Padres. Eric Hosmer signed a deal with the Padres worth a Padres’ record $144 million on Saturday. The contract also includes an opt-out after 5-years.

Eric Hosmer hit .318/.385/.498 with 25 home runs, a .318 batting average, 31 doubles, 94 RBI, 192 hits, .385 OBP, and a 4.0 WAR in 2017 for the mediocre Kansas City Royals. Hosmer also had a 132 OPS+ in 2017 (100 is league average). The Wizard of Hoz also had a .997 fielding percentage en route to winning his 4th career Gold Glove Award.

The previous San Diego Padres franchise record for the largest contract was held by Wil Myers at $83 million. Hosmer’s $144 million contract will completely blow that figure out of the water. For those of you at home who are not into math, Hosmer bested Myers contract by $61 million. Not a bad payday for the 28-year-old, 7-year veteran.

Wil Myers will shift from first base to the outfield to make room for Eric Hosmer on the field.

It had previously been reported by multiple sources that Hosmer had 2 7-year contract offers on the table from the Kansas City Royals and the San Diego Padres, but it is clear that either these rumors were false or the Padres upped the ante.

Hosmer’s will be just the third free agent contract signed for longer than three years. He will now join Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish (6-years, $126 million) and Milwaukee Brewers’ outfielder Lorenzo Cain (5-years, $80 million).

Eric Hosmer became the face of the Royals franchise and was a fan favorite amongst Kansas City Royals fans, especially during the Royals’ World Series runs in 2014 and 2015. Hosmer dazzled Royals fans with his smooth glove and his scrappy playing style and he will be missed in Kansas City.

Hosmer signing with the Royals signifies the end of an era. Now that Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain are gone, and with Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas soon to follow, the Royals will now enter the bottomless pit that is mediocrity and a rebuild seems inevitable. Fortunately, for Royals fans, the Royals were able to go against all odds in 2014 with a World Series appearance against the Giants and a World Series victory over the New York Mets in the following season.

The San Diego Padres will now be tied to Eric Hosmer for at least the next 5-years and will pour most of their current payroll into their new first baseman. The San Diego Padres have been rebuilding for a few years now and while this signing will not fix all of their problems, it will bring them one step closer. Hopefully, for the Padres, Hosmer will live up to the huge expectations that this contract will put upon him and not put the Padres in a financial hole (like Albert Pujols with the Angels). Regardless, one of the top free agents on the market has now been signed and will finally know which Spring Training facility to report to.