The Nationals have reached an agreement to sign designated hitter Nelson Cruz to a one-year deal worth $15MM, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He notes that the contract includes a mutual option for 2023.
Cruz has been one of the best pure bats in baseball for over a decade, as he has posted a wRC+ of at least 106 each season since 2008, and a wRC+ of at least 122 in each season since 2013. Despite that, his market has increasingly been limited to American League teams due to his defensive limitations. The last time he played more than five games in the field was 2016, and the last time he played the outfield at all was 2018, though he did play one game at first base in 2021. With the new CBA expanding the designated hitter to the National League, that doubled the slugger’s market, perhaps making him the primary beneficiary of the rule change.
This incredible production has all occurred despite Cruz being one of the oldest players in the league, as he’ll turn 42 in July. The slugger had a mixed season last year, as he had a line of .294/.370/.537 and a wRC+ of 141 with the Twins, but after being traded to the Rays, slashed .226/.283/.442, wRC+ of 96. Despite that limited production down the stretch, the overall line on the season was still strong: .265/.334/.497, wRC+ of 122.
In their first full season with a full-time designated hitter, the Nationals have chosen to eschew the common plan of rotating various players through the spot for rest. They’ll instead turn to Cruz as a 30+ home run bat in the middle of their lineup. A heart of the order featuring Juan Soto, Josh Bell, and Cruz could be fearsome indeed.
Once the lockout ended, rumors started flying about Cruz’s potential destination, with the Dodgers, Padres, Brewers, and Braves considered finalists earlier today. Cruz wound up choosing a dark horse suitor in the Nationals, returning to a National League club 17 years after his brief debut with Milwaukee. Cruz’s $15MM salary is a $2MM increase from the amount he received from the Twins about a year ago.
Last year, after signing Kyle Schwarber to a one-year, $10MM deal and seeing him make the All-Star team, the Nats shipped him to the Red Sox for righty Aldo Ramirez, who is now the team’s 12th-ranked prospect according to Baseball America. If the Nationals aren’t in contention as the 2022 trade deadline approaches, Cruz could allow for a similar gambit.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo oversaw something of a reboot last summer, as the club shipped off Schwarber, Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, Brad Hand, Jon Lester, and Daniel Hudson at the trade deadline. Even with Cruz in tow, the club’s competitive balance tax payroll sits around $150MM, which would mark the team’s lowest since 2013. Though the Nationals’ primary offseason need was thought to be pitching, thus far Rizzo has only made minor additions in Steve Cishek, Anibal Sanchez, Erasmo Ramirez, and Aaron Sanchez.
No matter which team signs him, my love for that team goes up.
Freeman to the Braves; Cruz to the Dodgers as their plan B to fill DH and slide Muncy out back to 1B
Ya if Cruz goes to Dodgers, that means Freddie staying for sure.
The Dodgers come up in all these rumors because the media need something but it doesn’t mean it’s realistic
Cruz in Miller Park would be hazardous the Bernie’s health! (That’s a lot of sliding!)
And yes I do realize it’s AmFam Park now…….
And also apparently I got typoed. Should read “hazardous TO Bernie’s health”
Don’t think it’s gonna happen. Stearns usually signs guys who can play multiple positions. Also guys who they aren’t in rumors for.
Plus the Brewers have Tellez, Vogelsong, and Hiura to play 1B/DH. If anything they need another Outfielder to go with Taylor who can play regularly if need be in case Yelich and Cain suffer through injury plagued seasons again
I might be wrong but didn’t they non-tender Vogelbach?
If not, having him, Tellez and Huira should not be the reason they don’t try to add someone..anyone..to DH or play 1B.
Yes, and the Brewers like to clog up positions so there is a logjam
Wissportdude1102: You might be right, I don’t follow the Brewers. However, Milwaukee has the DH now, and with 26 man rosters, maybe even 28 to start the season, every NL team, if not every team will be more willing to carry a guy who can’t play defense.
Interestingly, Cruz started one game at 1b last year, his first game at 1b ever, and his first time playing defense since 2018 when he played 26.1 innings of OF defense.
I am a Padres fan and I would be excited if Cruz signs to be the DH. However, I think that it would solve a lot of problems if Fernando Tatis Jr. was very willing to move to the outfield.
Man i wish the Rays would resign him or atleast get Soler
Padres
My guess is the Padres too
How does it make sense considering Hosmer should be a DH? We need an actual 1st baseman now.
Hosmer can field not hit
From the numbers, Hosmers defense had gone way down as well
Cue Pads Fans or one of his alts racing in here to try and prove to you that Hosmer is actually a good defender
Thickiedon: Hosmer’s defense weirdly has gone way down. Hosmer is actually an above average hitter, if only very slightly. And if he is deployed mainly against right handed pitchers, he is much more effective.
Cruz signing with SD might not be the best strategy, but it could be a good strategy.
I think IDEALLY, Tatis Jr. moves to LF, Hosmer is the DH, Cronenworth plays 1b, and Kim and prospect CJ Abrams play middle infield. Cronenworth’s defense might be wasted at 1b, and perhaps Kim and Abrams cannot be depended on as starters at this juncture. It might be that the ideal situation involves just releasing Hosmer, but teams are reluctant to do that.
Thelegendaryharambe: I think that most knowledgeable Padres fans are aware the Hosmer’s defense is not good now.
@truthlemonade- You would waste Cro at 1B… and Tatis in LF? Not that I’m agreeing that Tatis should be moved (he shouldn’t…) but wouldn’t Tatis in RF and Myers in LF be a better idea? Cro was MORE THAN serviceable as a SS in Tatis’ absence. If we apply your logic, who plays SS if Cro is your 1B? And as studly as Abrams is, he just lost a year to a freak injury. He is not ready to be our 2B, even in a platoon-type situation. I do like Kim at 2B and Cro at SS if Tatis moves to RF, but this is not happening anytime soon (barring injuries and/or trades). Excited for the season, nonetheless! Cheers buddy
It’s makes sense in that the team would instantly be better offensively. Nelson Cruz had an OPS that was 100 points higher than Hosmer last year. By all metrics he’s a much better hitter.
Hosmer shouldn’t be a DH for the Padres, he should be off the roster.
This is why I think a SDP/KCR swap of Merrifield/Santana for Hosmer+ prospects makes sense
Lol why would KCR take back players they had 5-10 years ago.. why would they want them again? Makes no sense.
Well, Hosmer has been tied to KC in rumors and SDP has elite prospects. Merrifield is the versatile player SDP needs. Santana fulfills DH w high OBP. I don’t see anyone else taking on the bad contracts of either Santana or Hosmer. What doesn’t make sense?
That makes zero sense for the Royals
The fact that Hos had a much worse contract and the Royals aren’t hampered by Santana being overpaid in a non competitive year for the team. Unless the prospects coming from Merrifield a wild overpay I don’t see them eating the contract and giving away Merrifield in that deal
Royals like to recycle old players (Holland, Davis, Dyson). Although those are always low money, low risk.
KC is never going to eat the rest of that contract.
You might get them to take Hosmer,but they won’t be giving up Merrifield for the privilege.
Padres aren’t taking Santana back in a deal and the Royals definitely aren’t trading Merrifield to bring Hosmer back. The Royals are more than adequately covered at 1B/DH with Santana/Dozier/O’Hearn and Pratto on the way.
Why wouldn’t it make sense if KC gets prospects?
@CNichols That’s not going to happen.
@thickiedon The Royals are ABSOLUTELY not taking back Hosmer in a trade that sees them parting with Whit Merrifield. It’s not going to happen. They don’t want to trade Merrifield at all. Why would they do in a trade that sees them adding that POS.
And no, shedding Santana’s contract isn’t an answer. His contract is underwater, sure. But not nearly as underwater as Hosmer’s.
And Merrifield being 33 isn’t an answer either. If they are worried about him declining they can trade him for a solid return without taking back Hosmer or someone like him.
Lastly, the Padres ain’t got a need for Whit Merrifield.
@Thickie:
If you proposed that trade in a fantasy league, it would be vetoed for collusion. Hosmer is a salary dump, and you’d need to include good prospects just to get a team to take him. No way do you get anything valuable in return.
KC is not trading Merrifield lol….Not Merrifield and not Perez
@VegasSDfan
Preller tried to get Cruz last july and the plan was to teach him to play 2B, so fit wasn’t a concern then, so it certainly isn’t now that the NL has the DH.
There is still a good chance Preller trades Hosmer or Myers and Cruz is likely only getting a one or two year at most deal
Obviously, SDP has to give up prospects.
Formula:
Hosmer(horrible contract) + prospects = Santana(bad contract) + Merrifield
The Padres have Cronenworth, Profar, and Kim that can all serve the same function as Merrifield. Giving up what few prospects the team has left to get another IF/OF seems pointless, especially after acquiring Adam Frazier last season and then trading him away earlier this offseason
Curious, what are your presumed starters? You expect Profar and Kim to start? Look at the roster. Merrifield is a major upgrade: lead off hitter and CF.
If the season started today i would guess
C Caratini
1B Cronenworth
2B Kim
SS Tatis
3B Machado
LF Profar
CF Grisham
RF Myers
DH Hosmer
That is of course if the Padres don’t make any other moves, which Preller is certainly going to.
Merrifield is severely underpaid. He will cost a fortune on his own, yet you expect to be able to get rid of Hosmer at the same time? The Padres already have Abrams at league minimum to play SS, 2B or CF.
@ thickiedon;
First off, Merrifield is a Royals team leader and they value that. Plus they are awash in prospects in the high minors and now on the ML roster. But IF they wanted prospects for Merrifield, WHY would they have to take on Hosmer’s contract when they have no where to play him? If they made Merrifield available they would have teams bidding against one another for him – plays multiple positions well, an excellent lead-off hitter, smart and winning ballplayer, never a problem.
Kim really showed great defense and was picking up on offense when they screwed things up and got Frazier. I don’t think he’s going to be a .250 hitter anytime soon, but I enjoy his play and hustle.
Caratini?
@Rsox If Kim is playing he is the shortstop. He is a much better defender there than anyone else on the Padres’ roster.
Kim defended well in limited role last year, but small x-section. He was only so-so defender over many seasons in KBO. He won’t start if he doesn’t hit. Cronenworth was excellent at SS during Tatis haitus. But this discussion is moot given the Pads will be adding DH and Tatis is their best WAR production at SS.
The Padres have multiple catchers. I think that one of their catchers would be a more effective DH, with Hosmer at 1b and Cronenworth at 2b. And Austin Nola would start at C before Caratini.
@Thelegendaryharambe
The most exciting young player in the game right now occupies that spot. The Padres tried Tatis in the OF and it didn’t work. If Kim is in the lineup for better or worse it will be at 2B
I can’t see the Royals including Merrifield in a salary dump, even if they are getting prospects in return. They have had teams calling them about Merrifield for a few years now & haven’t been willing to trade him. If the Royals were willing to trade him, it would be in a separate deal and not in a trade to get rid of Santana.
Yeah. Kim won’t start if he doesn’t hit. But if he is starting he needs to be the (singular) shortstop. He is outstanding with the glove. And I know it is sacrilege to say anything remotely negative about Tatis but if he can’t curb his error habit he will have to be moved off of the position, irrespective of Ha-Seong Kim.
@Rsox What’s more important: Hype or production? Tatis was not a good defender at shortstop last year.
Mets
Which NL West team is it going to be?
Thanks for all the info.
Thanks for this very insightful post.
Nationals
You win.
Michael Kay announced on his radio show that Nelson Cruz had retired the other day. Did anyone else hear that? WTF?
That’s on you, @L99.
Kay (& Sherman too) can’t ever even figure out the Yanks payroll ffs. Year after year they get it wrong. I refuse to entertain any notions either of them try to introduce.
@Ducky, It wasn’t that I believed him, it was that he said something that I knew was so wrong that I couldn’t figure out how he even confused whatever information he heard. I don’t listen to Kay, but they simulcast his radio show on YES, so I landed on his show as I was flipping channels looking for an update on the new CBA. I’ve always felt lucky I became a Yankee fan, but I believe my punishment is Michael Kay is my host on this journey! I disagree on Sherman.
Kay does that often. It’s pretty miraculous.
Gotcha.
Should have figured that being experienced with Michael Kay you knew better than to believe him.
No worries there, Ducky. Even by Kay’s standards, it was a weird one.
Well we can cross the Marlin$ off the list of potential suitors.
The Marlins? They’re probably trying to lure Jeff Conine out of retirement — at a discount.
That would be a nice story. The Marlins could then bring Griffin Conine up and they could follow in the footsteps of the Griffey’s and the Raines’ as father son duo’s playing in the same game at the same time
Not saying he’s going there, but he’d really help the Phillies.
I don’t see the fit as the Phillies have plenty of bats who can’t field.
Don’t want the cheater. He’s 42, and in the event he decides to play fairly, won’t be worth his pay.
bruh.
This was biggest waste of time If an article. Thanks for no info, but stating the obvious in that a free agent has a deal moving along quickly with the season starting in under a month. Pulitzer Prize winning stuff here. SMH
*of an article, sorry for the error. Maybe I can get a job writing for MLBTR
There was a report this morning that Cruz was finalizing details for a deal with an NL team.
We weren’t certain of the source and checked with our own, and that’s the info we used in this post. I guess you’d rather there’d be nothing at all on this, but you’re probably in the minority there on a website called MLB Trade Rumors.
Right on Tim, really not sure why people come to a site called “Rumours” and expect only facts??? Oh and sorry for the Canadian spelling for the name of your site!
Don’t feed the trolls
Thank you, Tim, for all that you do. Supporting this website is one of my favorite things to do!
Go get ‘em, Tim
Might be helpful to update the title
Tasty fish fillet
correction: 5th biggest waste of time.( at most) .theres the time it took you to read the article, the time it took you to write a snarky comment,the time it took me to read said comment and the time I have now wasted replying to your comment. I hope you are happy starting a massive time wasting chain..but hey you got some attention so at least your day is made.
Is the sky blue? Tell me what you thonk!
*think
I was acknowledging that typo in my previous post, so that’s why I added the “*”.
@riffraff…good one!
@TeddyK
Are you the kind of person that gets onto Google Review to whine and complain and about Bad Kielbasa and Cheese at some local eating establishment instead of talking to the owners about what the issue is in person>?
@lefty…good one!
At least in that case the person reviewing actually paid for a service and it was sub par. This guy is on a free site and complaining.
he said Dodgers were interested. They’re hardly in on anyone so that was something
@mookie A big part of why the Dodgers are interested in Cruz is because the Padres are interested. If you can swoop in and snag a free agent coveted by a division rival, you not only get his services for yourself, you deny his services to the other guys.
I learned that Nelson Cruz is close to signing a deal (valuable) and that @teddyk doesn’t understand the purpose of the site.
L99: Two pieces of valuable information, the former a rumor, the latter a fact.
Hope you enjoyed your well deserved spanking!
He’ll be a Padre by tonight.
He’ll be playing till he’s 56
“Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64”
Are we sure he ISN’T 56?
Cruz was already past 25 when he got a September callup, it is hard to imagine that he is older than his age.
Good fits would be Arizona, San Diego, or Angels.
how are the angels a good fit? they only have the AL MVP in the DH spot already
Go Nellie!
He’s done. Whoever signs him will regret it. Look at the terrible line he had with Tampa. He actually had to hit against real pitching in the AL East instead of the Beer League of the AL Central.
Lol.
The AL Central had a 4.38 ERA and the AL East had a 4.29 ERA. It’s not that big of a seperation between the two. Not only that, but the Central has a lower ERA than the East if you don’t count the Rays or Twins.
He’ll be better than league avg against lefties but wouldn’t trust him full-time
Without the PED testing the last few months I sure he’s ready to go.
Nelson Cruz’s career was completely dead in the water until Scott Coolbaugh opened up his batting stance back in 2008. He’s been mashing ever since.
And don’t forget steroids. Sweet, sweet steroids.
Not defending Cruz here..but I thought his PED’s were pre-2010 (Rangers/Brewers days). Or did I miss something?
I know it’d be a big deal and he’d get blasted all over if he ended up back with Milwaukee..people gotta have someone to focus their attention on since Braun retired. Or use it as the link to bring up Braun again (and yes, I get the irony of bringing him up myself..).
A paper trail got him, he never tested positive. He’s shown a willingness to cheat and the ability to not test positive. Why should we believe either has changed.
Seems perfect for Cleveland. Clevelanders got screwed on that new name. There should have been a poll or vote or something not just shoved down their throats.
I will never quit calling them the Indians.
umm Franmil Reyes still exists right?
I think you’re onto something there. Yes, he’d be a great fit in CLE, but the Cleveland Clevelanders is actually a better option than the Guardians. I’ll keep that in my hat for when the guardians of the galaxy become woke and hypersensitive
It’s an interesting coincidence that this article was posted immediately after the article on enhanced PED testing.
Was thinking the same thing! Lol.
I was blessed to work with Nelson while he was with Seattle. I don’t know if there is a better man in all of baseball. I will forever root for him no matter the team he plays for. Which ever team gets him will find themselves very fortunate.
Top dollar, 2 years
2/40?
Just get Cruz out of the AL and it will help my Detroit Tigers win at least 3 more games. He’s killed the Tigers over his career as he must have at least 50 of his career HRs against them. Good riddance and good luck in the NL
it’s amazing how without spring training people haven’t looked at rosters. he’d be a great fit for this team or that team that already has a DH
I’ve saying all offseason that the Giants have been looking for right handed power for 2 seasons now. Nellie is a great fit for them. I think position versatility goes out the window in the case of Cruz just as it does with Crawford. You aren’t finding a better player for the spot.
Hope he doesn’t sign with Los Karens
He’d be a nice complementary DH against lefties but wouldn’t count on him as a full-timer for a full season. Way better option than Pujols though
Thats why i don’t see him signing with the Dodgers. Cruz is going to want to sign where he is going to be in the lineup everyday, not depending on who’s pitching for the other team. Dodgers could bring back Pujols for far less than signing Cruz to be a platoon player
My guess is a team who has a chance to win the WS. He can hit in any ballpark especially in Detroit where the dimensions favor pitchers. If not a WS contending team I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes back to the Twins. They love him there and tried getting him his ring with the trade to TB.
Boomstick to SD
You are all wrong. The Marlins are going to sign him.
The best clubhouse veteran any team could have. He is a favorite everywhere! He deserves more than a speculated $12 million contract for 1 year.
No one concerned about age and poor second half ?
2 year deal to the cubs.
Drafted by the Brewers, finishing career with the brewers
Nelson Cruz fresh off a few months without PED testing will be a beast.
It’s the Pirates right? Gotta be the Pirates
Yes, it is the Pirates. I’m fully convicing myself of this as well.
Just think… If the Orioles would have signed Nelly long-term instead of Chris Davis…
It’s always a touchingly moving and powerful story when a guy can overcome the use of PED’s early in his career to persevere long enough to put up statistically suspicious production in his 40’s.
Cruz to the Dodgers makes a ton of sense as they have been tied to Freeman as well. Nelson is actually a comparable hitter to Freeman (until he eventually hits the inevitable wall of age finally), is right handed, and will cost 1/3 of Freeman’s annual salary and for just a single year. The only downside is how his lack of ability to field blocks the rotation of players who can actually play multiple positions through the DH slot. And for the famously flexible Dodgers, that is a big deal. But if the Dodgers decide they want him, Cruz is theirs.
BEWARE of CRUZ
I would be very careful signing Nelson Cruz, I think he is very close to the Edge of the Cliff.. His drop off in the 2nd Half last year might be the sign that the end could be very near and happen overnight.
One is giving him a multi year deal though. Just trust the roids can get him through the year
No one*
He’s going to San Diego I bet.
Cruz and Pujols being teammates would be amusing.
Combined they’ve hit into over 400 double plays.
It may be due to discovering an undetectable steroid, but I still have to root for the only player in MLB older than me (by 4 days) who’s actually still a good player.
He was drafted by the Brewers and started his career in Milwaukee, I can see him playing for the brewers. Have his career go full circle and finish up in Milwaukee
Another perennial roid head that will eventually be caught again.
At the speed of the lockout resolution haha
I honestly wouldn’t mind if the cubs signed him to a 1 year deal. He’d make Wrigley look small
Father Time will eventually tap him on his shoulder and tell him it’s time, but he’s worth the bet on a one-year deal. I suspect he’s shooting for at least two.
I think he’d be a nice veteran add for the Jays. They could rotate him with Vlad and their OFers in the DH spot to keep guys healthy.
Must not have been moving “that” quickly.
My thoughts exactly
Brewers would definitely do it. Like they signed Grandal short term for big $$.
I think it makes more sense for Milwaukee than others on this list. His bat can give better pitches to anyone in front of him in that order. It could be the bat behind Yelich that gets him going again. His hard hit rate hasn’t suffered much. Confidence of a power threat behind him couldn’t be a bad thing.
Padres and Dodgers, Dodgers and Padres…
I hope it’s Padres he would be mostly on the bench with Dodgers. Can he play infield positions?
He is strictly a DH
He’s not signing with LA. I’m tired of agents and writers leveraging other teams by saying the Dodgers are interested. Just like how Freeman is not coming to LA
Dodgers have Turner for DH. Can’t see them spending for a DH.
He’d be the new Manny at Chavez Ravine. Roid boy.
Isn’t muncy supposed to DH for them since he can’t throw?
Dodgers spend and spend and spend. Must be nice.
also cultivate, cultivate, cultivate young talent. they signed Pollock, Betts and Bauer more or less over the last six years or so. the rest of the squad are homegrown talent and cast offs other teams gave up on. stop whining cause your team isn’t run well. that narrative is so old and tired, not to mention completely inaccurate.
They are run extremely well, always have prospects in the pipeline but you have to admit you have a lot more room for error with all that payroll. No other team would be able to have a 40M pitcher disappear and not bat an eye.
LAD and NYM’s league
Braves…? Interesting with a team supposedly locked into Ozuna as DH. AA loves his high-AAV short-term deals that Cruz most likely would garner — and he’d be a great option (including someone else) to fill in for firepower lost by Freeman (or with Freeman, if he re-signs).
Only thing, does that mean Ozuna either plays the COF spot more? (Gasp) or is he cut/traded/released, despite ATL needing OF help? (Not likely).
If Cruz is announced as signing with the Braves Fredster is gone. Ozuna stays.
Neither of those take FF”s position away. A most likely 1 year (2 max) deal for Cruz isn’t going to hinder Freeman in anyway. It would more likely mean Ozuna is headed out of town via trade.
Reports state that the Braves are not willing to go 6 years for the amount of money Fred is asking. Yet, they will then pay Cruz, keep Freeman, and then try and trade Ozuna. Also, again people on this site think that trading a player is just making a phone call and bam it’s done. This isn’t nintendo.
I’ve also seen things that say they’re good with 6 years. I also realize that AA doesn’t really leak – and I feel like if Atlanta wasn’t the favorite, FF would have signed by now.
Ozuna can be traded. Fans have short term memory. Hell, DeShaun Watson is about to get traded. Braves may eat $$, but someone would take Ozuna.
If Atlanta were to sign Cruz, I think it would mean Ozuna would play LF more, Duvall in CF. I wouldn’t mind the offense, but I’m not sure Cruz is the answer for Atlanta – as LF, RF (Until Acuna is back) and #1 starter are more pressing. Case could be made that RP is a need as well.
AA moves in silence, but I haven’t seen anything come out about Atlanta willing or looking to trade Ozuna either. At this point, until it happens, I think he’s in Atlanta for the next 3.
The top 3 spots in the Braves rotation are returning with a few guys to backfill 4/5 spots. Pitching isn’t a concern for me, and with the DH, I throw either Pache/Waters in CF (whichever isn’t traded for Olson) and cover the extra ground we need to cover having Ozuna in LF. I’ve been a Braves fan my entire life and having Maddux as my favorite player of all time, we will all be fine post-Freddie.
Will Dodgers fans, throw syringes on the field and yell cheater at him? Oh wait, they won’t call anyone out, if they put on a Dodgers cap on.
Yep, cuz lots of team fans boo their own players. Brilliant take!!
We would boo Correa if we signed him
Please not the Braves. I’d rather have Soler.
They’re essentially the same thing offense wise. Soler could play a serviceable RF though.
No, they are not.
Nod to Cruz, but they’re similar, stats wise.
There’s nothing in Soler’s career that indicates he can play a serviceable defense for any stretch of the season. To expect him to do that for a multi-year contract when the first season he turns 30 is funny. Unless he’s giving a substantial discount on him playing the field, no team with a DH should allow him anywhere near a glove. Like, lock it up.
Soler has always been incredibly streaky. I appreciate what he did for the title run, but everything from his career has stated that AA captured lightning in a bottle and not matured him to a new player at age 30.
All I care about is Freddie Freeman in a Braves jersey. Everything else is just noise!
Find something new. Every Braves fan wants Freeman back, some Braves fans want him back if it makes sense for the team (1 person is not greater than the team) and if FF wants to be back, he could be.
We all get it. But there’s other moves required to field a MLB team than just FF.
If FF moves on, his production will be replaced and Atlanta will be just fine.
Exactly
You can’t trust anything that moron Heyman says. That guy is wrong 90% of the time
Not a doctor but there’s clearly some neurological degeneration at work is his head.
Amazing to think that this guy didn’t perform well at all until he was 28 years old and is now sitting here with a chance at 500 dingers.
He’ll never reach 500 with the Padres
As a giants fan, whatever way he goes- guess we are gonna see him a lot
In what world is this moving along quickly? Slug land? Yeesh.
Blue Jays swoop in at the last minute.
Feinsand says it’s down to two, Heyman says it’s down to five with 25 mystery teams “still in the mix”…
As a fan of neither the Dodgers or the Padres, I find it amusing that the two “finalists” are teams with little to no need for a one dimensional player, as they already have the players to fill the DH position.
God I wanted him back in a Mariners uniform.
I figured once the lockout was over it was going to be just crazy fast signings and even figured teams would have to pony up and spend more than the projected FA totals. But anyone else notice it’s going WAY slower than than what we were expecting? I think owners aren’t offering up the contracts these players were expecting. It’s going just the opposite than what I thought it would.
The changes in the CBA didn’t really increase how much most teams can afford to spend on payroll, but those few big market teams. It did raise the cost of existing payroll, with the minimums being increased. And it did reduce the amount teams are getting from revenue sharing, as the pre-arb pool money is coming from that fund. I’m not finding this surprising at all.
Bad freaking move for the Padres. AJ Preller is an idiot. With that said, Padres sign him for 4 years, $60M…
freaking YUCK. that alligator arm wuss is the reason why the rangers lost to the cardinals in the world series a few years ago. dude was too pretty to possibly bump into the wall catching out #27 to win game 4. what a complete JOKE. i don’t care if he can still hit. and i don’t care if he doesn’t ever take the field. that is THE LAST GUY i want on my team.
That was game 6.
Wouldn’t have been in the World Series if he wasn’t on the team lol
All that drama to sign with a last place team lol
2 years/$28M w/ a $15M option….. Nelson Cruz really should have received a 10 year/$143.75M deal years ago and then been traded around, because his value has remained virtually the same that entire time on short term deals and I still think he got hosed out of $3M on that deal a couple years back for $13M and $12M.
Wow! He clearly doesn’t want to win this year.
$$$
Some bad signs if you watched him with the Rays last year. Finally, he showed serious signs of a slowing bat. Starting missing fastballs in his happy zone and getting fooled by off-speed. Serious chance he falls off the cliff this year and calls it a career.
lol and he takes a year w a losing team
You fans are very temperamental.
Surprised the Dodgers or Padres couldn’t beat that deal.
I still think Preller shells out the cash for Castellanos.
The Dodgers play matchups and it’s possible Cruz didn’t want to have to worry about who was pitching to know if he would be in the lineup.
The Dodgers should be looking for a 3B and just let Turner DH
I’m sure neither wanted to add the 2nd year
Mutual option, though, which means it’s a one-year deal. If the Nats don’t want to pay for the second year, they simply decline.
Both teams likely have other targets in mind.
Dodgers are probably focused on Freeman. The Padres probably can’t make real moves until they trade Hosmer or Myers
Schwarber 2.0? Trade deadline deal again
I was about to say that
This is baffling to me! Baffling! Say what you will about the NLE, but they all try to improve every year. Not many divisions can say that.
<—- Glares towards the Rocky Mountains…
-.-
Looking forward to watching him play in the NL East.
Essentially, a buy a prospect at the deadline type deal.
Down to Dodgers and Padres huh??? lol
Not sure why insiders even exist half of the time.
Nonetheless, congrats to The Nationals for signing one of my favorite people in the world. Nelson is the consummate professional and a genuinely great man. You’ll find very few better than this guy! Good luck on the season Nellie!
Seems like a great move for the Nats. No intention to contend this year so if Cruz is having a decent year again, they could move him at the trade deadline.
Cruz deciding between Dodgers and Padres — becomes a National
Protection for Soto on cheap one year deal. Nice move by Nats as they try to reload before Soto hits market.
WOW the Nat’s, I thought he said he narrowed it down to the Dodgers and Padres
Crazy smart on Cruz’s part…..he will get traded at the deadline to a team that is in the thick of the pennant race. He goes last to first at the point at which the top teams will be clearer than now.
Crazy smart on Rizzo’s part….he gets a hitter who may revitalize the offense and if the team still falls apart, then he will get a primo prospect from a first place team needing a bat.
Quite savvy. Nice pick-up for WAS, solid move!
Glad someone understands.
Seems like a good deal. Surprised a contender wasn’t willing to give him more.
I find the $13m price tag back to back years cool. You can always pencil him in at that $13-15m range
A little known rule that the Nationals snuck through the CBA:
They’re allowed fifty players on their forty man roster.
Nats are probably figuring that if they’re fading again around the trade deadline, they’ll ship him to a contender and get a decent prospect in return. Minnesota just did it last year.
I don’t think the Pads can really add anymore payroll this year unless they can get rid of Hosmer and Myers. I doubt they sign Suzuki either.
They can add payroll, but they are going to carefully spend the additional 15 million
They can add payroll if they get rid of Hosmer or Myers. Which means losing campusano or hassell, which would be stupid. I’d rather just cut Hosmer and save the league min than lose a quality prospect in order to dump our trash.
72-90
Tell me you have a tiny pee pee without saying you have a tiny pee pee. Bro, you’re just sad…
Nats have no chance at a postseason. Definitely a waste of 15 mm for one season. For Cruz, this is a cash grab. If true, Atlanta and LA offered less. At this stage of his career he should have taken less for a better chance to grab a ring at seasons end. But what do I know? I’m just a bat that Kenny Lofton stole from the umpires lounging room.
Can he play for Washington and then get traded at trade deadline?
Yes.
I certainly did not predict this one. Maybe Rizzo asked Soto, what can we do with $13 million to make you happy?
What happened to it being “down to the Dodgers and Padres?”