The recent memo instructing MLB teams to prepare under the assumption that there won’t be a DH in the NL next season has not expedited talks between the Twins and Nelson Cruz, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic. As the two sides continue their staredown of sorts, the Twins have also “checked in” on alternate options like Michael Brantley, Kyle Schwarber and Adam Duvall, per Hayes.
It’s worth noting that, per ESPN’s Buster Olney, despite that memo from MLB, most people around the game still expect MLB and the MLBPA to eventually work out a deal to add a universal DH next year. The league and union weren’t exactly expeditious in their last several waves of negotiations, taking months to hammer out return-to-play conditions and then agreeing to expanded playoffs mere hours before the season’s first pitch was thrown.
Cruz is reportedly seeking a two-year deal and waiting resolution on the universal DH before determining where he’ll sign for the upcoming season(s). The Twins have good reason to want him back after an outstanding .308/.394/.626 output with 57 home runs in 735 plate appearances between the 2019-20 seasons. However, if Cruz’s market is limited to American League clubs, they’d have added leverage in trying to bring him back on a one-year deal — perhaps with a club option, as was the case with his last contract. Any deal for Cruz figures to come with a raise over the $13MM annual rate at which he played out his two years with the Twins.
With regard to the other names on which the Twins have inquired, Brantley is the most accomplished hitter of the bunch and has a connection with Twins president of baseball ops Derek Falvey, who was an assistant GM in Cleveland prior to being hired by Minnesota. It’d be a bit of a surprise to see the Twins bring either Schwarber or Duvall aboard, as they were non-tendered on the same day that Minnesota cut Eddie Rosario loose.
That said, the Twins seemingly intend to give top prospect Alex Kirilloff a legitimate crack at an everyday job in 2021. Either Schwarber or Duvall could give some DH cover and provide an experienced left field alternative — perhaps at a lesser rate than Rosario would’ve commanded — should Kirilloff struggle. In-house alternatives include Jake Cave and Brent Rooker.
For selfish reasons, I don’t want the DH.
When I play the 2021 version of Road to the Show, I want to pitch for a team where I’ll be able to hit.
Ownership & the Union are definitely keeping that in mind.
Haha that made my day 😀
That was darn funny.
Hahahahah
First time I ever laughed at a comment on here.
Lol comment of the day good sir *hat tip*
That was absolutely hilarious, I literally laughed out loud.
For sure. The bench won’t matter anymore in that game with a DH
Even though the Rangers are in rebuild mode, they need to consider bringing Nellie home to end his career with the club that he went to two World Series with. Nellie probably still has 60 Jacks still in that bat. If the Rangers keep Gallo, they need a thumper in the lineup to protect him. Otherwise, Joey is going to walk 100 times in 2021. Assuming, COVID-19 is under control, Texas is going to need “somebody” to put some butts in the seats of that new stadium. Rangers reportedly want a $100 million payroll in 2021. They are currently sitting at $62 million. Heck, give Nellie 2/$26 million for 2021 and 2022 and make all the above happen!
Nelson Cruz is going to want to go to a team that will contend to finish off his career not a team that’s just now rebuilding
Nelson Cruz is going to want as big of a last paycheck as he can get, whether from a rebuilder or a contender.
He’s also going to want more than 2/$26M. My guess is more like 2/$30-$35M AND most likely on a team he has a chance to win the WS… or at least play competitive baseball in September
If they treat Cruz like Ranger royalty, maybe offer him a job in the organization after retirement…. he might say yes. Plus, money.
Schwarber would be a good fit in Arlington too. Probably better because of his age and the ability to play Left
Schwarber would be a good fit in Arlington too. Probably better because of his age and ability to play Left. Texas is still in rebuild mode. Cruz wants to win.
Nellie will chase the dollars as he did with the Orioles and Mariners. If the Rangers sign a thumper to protect Gallo in the lineup, it needs to be a right handed thumper. Schwarber is a lefty, and every team would be throwing southpaws at the Rangers. Not that the Rangers are going to compete…..but here’s a chance to resign a World Series hero who’ll put fans in the seats of the new stadium and allow Gallo to maximize his trade value if the Rangers choose to move him at the deadline or in the next offseason. Hard to sell low on Gallo now.
You may be overstating the impact Kyle schwarber would have on attendance
Schwarber doesn’t want to win?
The Twins better sign him. He’s worth every penny he gets
Would love to see Cruz in a White Sox uniform. Good on the Twins for resigning him if/when that happens.
I would be surprised if Joey Gallo is in TEX 2021. That being said, I don’t know which team would benefit the most with him on their team.
Orioles
Orioles won’t see October baseball besides on TV for probably another decade and a half. MINIMUM
I’m under no delusions as to where they stand as of right now, I know they stink. They need a lot. But so does a lot of other teams. I agree/disagree because I think they will be playing good or better ball within a few years, but yes I don’t have them “competing” for a while.
It would be cool if nelson went to the Sox.
Come on Twins and Cruz! Gotta be back with the Twins!! Get this done now! Need to continue with the Bomba Squad and take Sano under your wing for 2 more years!! Let’s GO boys!
1. Sign Cruz for 1 year
2. Sign Liam Hendricks for whatever it takes
3. Trade Buxton for starting pitching
They could trade for pitching without including Buxton. I just want to see him play one healthy year before he is gone.
2 years of availability would bring a much better return for Buxton
No.
1. Cruz will probably get a 2-year deal elsewhere. So, that doesn’t work.
2. Hendricks will never come back to MIN. If he does, I would be very pelasantly surprised
3. Buxton makes (or breaks) your starting pitching by being in YOUR outfield. Not someone else’s outfield. Look for pitching without including Buxton.
P.S. If you want to trade an outfielder, maybe Kepler’s contract could be moved for some value. But we just saw how little value above-average corner outfielders have on the trade market (EDDIE ROSARIO)
Nellie will chase the dollars as he did with the Orioles and Mariners. If the Rangers sign a thumper to protect Gallo in the lineup, it needs to be a right handed thumper. Schwarber is a lefty, and every team would be throwing southpaws at the Rangers. Not that the Rangers are going to compete…..but here’s a chance to resign a World Series hero who’ll put fans in the seats of the new stadium and allow Gallo to maximize his trade value if the Rangers choose to move him at the deadline or in the next offseason. Hard to sell low on Gallo now.
This guy is top 10 in mvp year after year. The twins would be crazy not to resign him.
Sign Cruz. Extend Buxton. Do what you can w/ relief pitching (plenty of good cheap options & bounceback candidates). Sign a high-caliber starter.
I’d like to see Balazovic and Duran as relievers to start their MLB service time (a la Johan Santana)
I want the DH gone. Baseball started out with a bat and a glove. Why change that? If you are too old to play the field, retire
They should also get rid of helmets! C’mon return the game to its roots already!!!
I think they started with a ball too.
They didn’t even use gloves when baseball started out. If you can’t play the field with your bare hands, you should just retire!
Amen
I realize Cruz is 39 years old BUT he’s been one of THE best hitters in baseball for some time now… the Twins should probably just give in and agree to a compromise (possibly even a slight ‘overpay’) with Cruz before the MLB announces that there will be a universal DH for 2021… because if they do before Cruz signs… it could wind up costing them a ton more $ — or even possibly cause them to lose him and his massive bat. If they’re okay with losing hos .280+ BA and 40+ HR I suppose that’s okay… but my guess is that they really want his big bat back in their lineup for 2021 if they want to contend (which I think they do)… And I don’t think there’s anyone else on the FA market who can provide the kind of offense he can AND my guess is, even if he wants more $ than the $13M he made last year… all things considered… my guess is he’s still going to be ‘cheaper’ than anyone else would be while providing the kind of offense he provides (given his age and lack of fielding ability). I’m guessing he’d probably take somewhere around 2/$30M maybe 2/$35M… And while that kind of $ for anyone his age is always a risk… his stats the past few years don’t seem to indicate any sort of slowing down. And ANYONE else putting up the kind of numbers he has would command $25 maybe even $30M a year… so getting him for closer to $15M is certainly a bargain — assuming he keeps up the kind fo production he has the past several years.
The market for Cruz has been cut in half and probably more. Unless the White Sox decide they want another bat, or a team like the Rangers or Mariners decide they want the veteran bat a return to Minnesota looks more and more likely
“prepare under the assumption that there won’t be a DH in the NL”. When the whole freaking World thinks the opposite is actually what will happen. What a joke. I know it’s part of a negotiation, but it’s been obvious forever that both sides are fine with a DH in the NL. It’s so stupid that either side thinks allowing the DH will make the other side want to give up more other things. Beyond dumb…
It would be great to get Cruz back on a similar deal to his previous contract.
But if they cannot, it’s not the end of world. They could find more at-bats for Rooker and :Larnach. And Kiriloff would be starting everyday in LF. They could even trade Kepler and still have the depth to fill out the DH and both corner OF spots internally…without bringing in anyone new.