The Rays have signed right-handed reliever Juan Cruz to a minor league deal, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
After a successful three-year stint with the Diamondbacks from 2006-08, Cruz signed a two-year deal worth $5.5MM with the Royals prior to the 2009 season. However, Cruz never found his form in Kansas City. He was released in April 2010 and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in May.
Still, the Rays continue a solid offseason with another low-risk, high-reward signing, bringing in a reliever in Cruz, 32, who has a career ERA of 4.15 and averaged 9.1 K/9.
Flavor Flav?
I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’m getting sick of all these “no risk some reward signings” that the Rays are pulling off. Other teams might want to get in there, too!
Why not? He was reasonably useful not so long ago, he’s still only 32, and they’re not guaranteeing him anything. Short relievers turn around one to two year stretches of injury/ineffectiveness from time to time.
Says on his bio page that he 6 foot 1 inch.
HA! “Short” reliever. I get it. Niiiice.
Absolutely no risk, we have been making at least 1 of these kind of signings every day lately. If nothing else, we are building a awesome AAA team.
This years Joaquin Benoit?
I see the Rays quietly piecing together a decent pen. It certainly won’t be the team’s biggest strength, but it should get them by just fine I would think. Solid signing, and he could be a big pitcher for them. Relievers tend to find their stride in Tampa these days, I wouldn’t overlook this guy at all, especially because he’s had past success.
Not only a decent pen, but a decent team. Considering everything they’ve lost, at least.
If his shoulder is healthy again this dude use to bust off 97-98 MPH heaters. With KC you could tell he was sick – low 90’s with an occasional 93 MPH fastball always high in the zone. They still need at least 2 more arms.
I love this pickup for the Rays. I loved Cruz’s slider when he was in AZ the movement it had was sick. His fastball was great too and he used it to his advantage setting up hitters and making them look stupid. He knows how to pitch. He ‘threw’ 5 innings last year so he’s basically been off for a year recuperating.
But yah, I get it, he sucked in KC and got hurt or didn’t care, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that if he has returned to form the Rays have got themselves a wicked back of the bullpen piece/emerg starter – but, if he’s garbage, who cares, its a minor league deal. Great job Rays though im glad they brought him to the AL East so i can watch him work more.
you do know that guys who have more than certain number of major league expeirence will have opt out claus if they don’t make the 25 man roster.
I was always a fan when he was with the Braves.
The ‘downfall’ of the recent Cubs regime was when Hendry traded Juan Cruz for Andy Pratt and Richard Lewis.
Wow Andy Pratt and Richard Lewis, had forgotten that trade. I see Pratt threw has thrown a whole 1.2 innings in the majors since the trade and Lewis hasn’t even gotten one major league AB.
After they see him pitch in spring training I have no doubt he’ll be in the majors opening day. I agree with most, if surgery cleaned him up and he can return to his form in AZ, he will be a great addition. People take Farnsworth as a highly valued piece of the bullpen and Cruz what? Their career numbers are almost identical.
Ouch. I watched Cruz play in KC as of the more-hyped bullpen additions over the last couple of years. However he lived up to NO expectations. This guy was worse than Jamey Wright, Farnsworth AND Roman Colon. Sorry TB but don’t count on much from this rag arm.
Does Cruz have a rep as a bad guy? Arrests or clubhouse trouble or something?
32-yo guy that was never a top flight stopper and is coming off 2 bad years and shoulder trouble.
Yeah, solid.
I’d think Durbin would still be too expensive at this point, but Delcarmen is an interesting option that I’d like the Rays to explore. He had a pretty bad year last year, but I think he’d be a better option on a minor league deal. A better one than Juan Cruz anyway.
Maybe you didn;t read the whole thing. This isn’t a major league deal to make Cruz a closer, it’s a minor league deal that merely gives him a chance to make the bullpen. If he still stinks, they cut him, no big deal. If, however, he returns to form–as many healthy, not-so-old veteran relievers do every year–they get something for nothing.
So yeah: solid.
Yeah..Just like Joaquin Benoit was….They see something there and they know what they’re doing
uh ohhh, i sense sarcassssssm!!!
no! he was fabulous for us in phoenix and one of the key reasons our team/bullpen fell apart after the dbacks let him walk at the end of 07. before the surgery he was super versatile as well – could start if you needed him to, or come out of the pen in any slot, even closer, comfortably.
the only time cruz was bad in KC was on the mound
Being a Red Sox fan, Delcarmen would be a great investment for any team. He showed flashes of being a dominating 7th inning guy then at times he was the worst reliever we had. I would still like to see the Cards take a look at him. Duncan might be able to work wonders with him.
Was also thinking that.
He’s always only been a good NL pitcher so he won’t amount to much for the Rays but even so it costs them nothing.
Yes because the 23,000 a game is less than the 20,000 in K.C. ..not to mention Rays attendance has risen every yr. for last 5 yrs and will probably be over 25,000 this yr. Not great but better than K.C. draws…
go back to your yankees posts bro
Perhaps the Royals have a cozier ballpark, so the smaller crowds feel bigger.
No…Royals have a MUCH nicer stadium but Trop is a dome so it feels more crowded than it is. I grew up near K.C. and loved going to Royals games..back in the day when they were good. That has always been one of the nicer venues.