Is it possible? Has the frozen MLB free agent market finally thawed? It appears one of the first dominos of the MLB offseason has fallen as Eric Hosmer has agreed to a contract with the San Diego Padres. The Padres have been linked to Hosmer for months and now they have got their man.

According to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi, the deal is eight-years, $144 million with an opt-out after the fifth year and a full no-trade clause for the first three years. Hosmer will make $20 million in each of the first five years and $13 million in each of the last three.

The deal is the largest in franchise history, eclipsing the six-year, $83 million deal signed by Wil Myers last year.

What does this mean for Myers?

Now that Hosmer is set to become the Padres' first baseman of the future, where does this leave Wil Myers? Myers will likely move into the outfield and seems thrilled to do so. "I'm happy to move out of that position to have a guy like that here," Myers told the San Diego Union-Tribune. On the bright side, Myers must certainly be looking forward to the effect Hosmer will have in the lineup. Hosmer will provide Myers with some protection in the lineup, something he hasn't had for a few seasons.

Are the Padres playoff contenders?

After inking Hosmer, who is entering his age-28 season, are the Padres playoff contenders?

They have one of the youngest rosters in baseball and core players Myers, Hunter Renfroe, Manuel Margot, and Austin Hedges that are under team control until 2022. San Diego also boasts one of the best farm systems in baseball. They have seven prospects in the top 100, according to Baseball America's rankings, including six in the top 50.

Adding a guy like Hosmer, who is renowned for the positive effect he has on a clubhouse and has playoff experience, is a move that cannot be overstated. The Padres are hoping he can recreate or come close to his .318 average and 25 home runs last season in addition to being a leader for the team. So, can the San Diego Padres breakthrough for a postseason berth in 2018?

At this moment it appears that they are still a year or two away from seriously competing. With the Rockies, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks all clinching playoff spots last season, the NL West is a bit crowded.

We can expect all three of those teams to push for a playoff spot once more in 2018, leaving the Padres in a tough position. The signing of Hosmer will expedite the process, injecting a shot of legitimacy and winning culture back into a franchise that has struggled to get over the .500 hump in recent years.
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