The Rockies are showing interest in Royals reliever Juan Cruz, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Joe Beimel was named as a Rockies target as well recently, in the wake of Huston Street's shoulder injury.
Last year the Royals signed Cruz on February 28th, as the hard-throwing reliever was hampered by his Type A status. The Royals ultimately gave up the #60 pick in the draft and inked Cruz to a two-year, $6MM deal with a club option for 2011. Though he continued to throw 94 mph in his first season with Kansas City, Cruz's strikeout rate disappeared as he dealt with a shoulder strain.
Cruz has $3.75MM remaining on his contract, so the Royals would presumably have to eat salary to make a deal happen.
In light of the Royals’ bullpen woes last year and Cruz’s pitching this year, can they really make this deal if they also have to eat salary? I see Cruz as more of a trade deadline move once all hope is gone for a division run.
If Cruz’s velocity is back after the shoulder strain than he might be a good fit for the Rockies. $3.75 Million however is not. I also don’t see the Royals paying a part of that salary for Cruz to pitch somewhere else.
@CO_Redhawk: Especially if they’ll be releasing Guillen soon (insert wishful thinking here) 🙂
hell no – Juan is not gone and he’s gonna earn that 3.75 this year!