Boston Red Sox fans irritated that struggling slugger Eric Hosmer is returning to the team for 2023

The Boston Red Sox have received word that first baseman Eric Hosmer is not going to use his opt-out clause for the 2023 season. He'll be coming back next season. Hosmer was acquired by Boston in August from the San Diego Padres.

Eric Hosmer didn't have the season he had hoped for this year. He dealt with back inflammation that caused him to miss the entire month of September. His back seemed to be a big issue for him, as he hasn't had as much success at the plate as he had in seasons past.

In his limited action this year, Hosmer hit .268 with eight home runs and 44 RBIs. This is not the number Hosmer is used to putting up. The slugger is used to putting up 20+ home runs a season.

Boston Red Sox fans aren't thrilled to have Hosmer back. They don't think the slugger will be able to bounce back from his performance last year.

Fans aren't holding back on their displeasure with Eric Hosmer. They don't think he'll be able to overcome his regression. They think he only decided not to opt-out of his contract because this was the best deal that he was going to get.

The Padres are paying for the majority of Hosmer's contract. Even if Hosmer isn't performing well, it won't cost the Boston Red Sox much money.

The Boston Red Sox may be without Xander Bogaerts

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts has opted out of his contract, leaving three years and $60 million on the table. He's looking to test free agency this offseason. He'll surely attract the attention of a lot of teams.

Bogaerts finished the regular season with the sixth-highest batting average in the league. He'll compete with Trea Turner as the best shortstop in the 2023 free-agent market.

The Boston Red Sox hope they can come to terms with Bogaerts in the offseason. Losing him would be a huge loss for the team, who finished in last place in the AL East last season.

If the Red Sox want to compete next season, they have to figure out a deal to get Xander Bogaerts back.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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