Former MLB All Star confirms retirement tour was with the Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs' recent signing of veteran first baseman Dominic Smith has drawn comparisons to a signing that the team made last off-season.

Smith has been a player that the Cubs have had in their crosshairs for much of the past two seasons and it was a similar case when the team signed veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer to a one-year deal prior to the 2023 season.

The key difference between the two signings is that Smith is not signing with the Cubs with the expectation of being an everyday player. Given the need they had at first base, the Cubs were hoping that Hosmer experienced a career resurgence on the North Side and the four-time Gold Glove award winner entered the 2023 season as the team's starting first baseman.

There were signs that Hosmer's Major League career was reaching its expiration prior to his run with the Cubs and that did not change once the season started. Hosmer slashed .234/.280/.330/.610 with an OPS+ of 64 in 100 plate appearances with the team.

Eric Hosmer confirmed he is retired on Wednesday after playing like a retired old-timer when he was the Chicago Cubs' first baseman in 2023.

Hosmer was released by the Cubs nearly two months after the 2023 season started in what was confirmation that the team miscalculated their band-aid approach to addressing the need at first base.

Hosmer was unable to find an opportunity elsewhere during the 2023 season and on Wednesday, the veteran called it a career. John Perrotto of Forbes caught up with Hosmer, who formally announced his retirement and revealed a move to media with the creation of MoonBall Media.

Ultimately, Hosmer was added to a list of failed experiments the Cubs have had at first base since the trade of Anthony Rizzo during the 2021 season. It's a list that includes Trey Mancini, Frank Scwhindel, and Matt Mervis but the Cubs are hoping their fortunes are about to change with highly-touted prospect Michael Busch getting an opportunity at first base to begin the 2024 season.

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