Baseball rumors: Eric Hosmer’s promotion, Derek Jeter’s slow start and more

With the Kansas City Royals’ promotion of first baseman Eric Hosmer this soon, he’ll probably earn arbitration eligibility after 2013. … Derek Jeter’s slow start would be a bigger issue if five Joe Girardi’sNew York Yankees regulars weren’t hovering around .900 or better in on-base plus slugging percentage. … Sandy AldersonThe New York Mets hope to keep Jose Reyes off the free-agent market, but other teams expect the Mets to trade him at midseason if they haven’t signed him to an extension. … Joel Zumaya’s is going to have another surgery on his elbow this week, effectively ending his tenure with the Detroit Tigers, as he will be a free agent after the season. … The Pittsburgh Pirates are talking to center fielder Andrew McCutchen about a contract that would run through 2015 with options for ’16 and ’17. … Texas Rangers left-handed pitcher C.J. Wilson just set a franchise record with his fourth double-digit-strikeout game. Nolan Ryan… Roy Halladay The Philadelphia Phillies’ best starter this season has been Cole Hamels, who had a 1.42 earned-run average in a recent stretch of five starts, holding opponents to a .182 average while striking out 37 in 38 innings. … Kenny Friedman, the father of Tampa Bay Rays GM Andrew Friedman, heads a group bidding against favorite Jim Crane for the Houston Astros.

— Phil Rogers