Jan. 23: Cruz passed his physical in the Dominican Republic and the Padres formally announced the contract on Monday.
Jan. 11: The Padres and slugger Nelson Cruz are in agreement on a one-year deal. The deal is pending a physical but the client of Primo Sports Group is slated to receive a $1MM guarantee.
Once Cruz gets into a game, it will be the 19th straight season for the veteran, who will turn 43 in July. He’s long been one of the most consistent sluggers in the league but he’s coming off a down season. From 2008 to 2021, he hit 434 home runs, the most of anyone in the majors in that time. His batting line over that stretch was .280/.350/.536 for a wRC+ of 136, indicating he was 36% better than league average in that time.
However, the most recent part of his career has been a different story. After being traded from the Twins to the Rays at the deadline in 2021, his production slipped. He hit just .226/.283/.442 after the deal for a wRC+ of 95. He signed a one-year, $15MM deal with the Nationals for 2022 and tried to get back on track but actually fell further. He hit .234/.313/.337 last year, finishing with a wRC+ of 85.
As the season was winding down, Cruz told reporters that he was going to undergo eye surgery, since he had been dealing some inflammation that was blocking his vision. He said that it had been affecting him for about a year and a half, which lines up with the period in which his production cratered. Assuming the operation was a success, it’s possible that he could get back to his previous levels of production. But given that he’s old by professional athlete standards, it’s possible that typical age decline could also be a factor.
There’s certainly some risk involved, but it seems to be one that Padres’ president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is willing to take. Preller has shown a tendency to give chances to players he previously employed when he was with the Rangers and Cruz fits that bill. He was a Ranger from 2006 to 2013, the time when he broke out and had some of his best seasons. If the gamble pays off, it will add a potent bat to a San Diego lineup that is already quite dangerous.
Cruz is strictly a designated hitter at this point in his career, having taking the field only once in the past four seasons, which was seven innings of first base action for the Rays in 2021. It’s possible that Cruz and the left-handed hitting Matt Carpenter could platoon in the designated hitter role, but Carpenter is also capable of playing some first base and outfield, giving manager Bob Melvin some ability to get them both into the lineup, if he’s so inclined.
Financially, the Padres have shot their payroll up to new heights this winter. Roster Resource calculates their spending at $250MM, which would easily be a franchise record. The figures at Cot’s Baseball Contracts have their previous high at $211MM, which was last year. Perhaps more importantly, the club is set to be a luxury tax payor for a third straight season, having also paid the competitive balance tax in 2021 and 2022. Roster Resource pegs their CBT number at $267MM, well beyond the $233MM base threshold and the second $253MM threshold. As a third-time payor in the second tax bracket, they’re currently slated for a 62% tax on any extra spending. If they go beyond the third line, which is $273MM, the rate jumps all the way to 95% and their top pick in the 2024 draft would be dropped by ten slots.
Héctor Gómez of Z101 Digital first reported the two sides were in agreement on a one-year deal. Robert Murray of FanSided first reported the $1MM salary.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Tips cap! Well done Aj!
They would have been better off bringing in Garlick. At least he can play OF.
And would protect them against vampires
Heck yes.
FU Twilight!
Apparently, they’re trying to compile the All-Steroid team.
Sympathy contract.
Not a bad signing, after not being able to sign Arson Judge. Hopefully Tatis ringworm is in remission.
I guess FSF stands for effing stupid effer.
Don’t start celebrating just yet Padres fans, agreement is pending a physical 🙂
There’s always the Whizzer.
Most Pads fans will celebrate more if he fails the physical.
He passed
Sad he was only 43. Guess him and Sal Bando will be watching together. They come in 3’s wonder who’s next. Oh you meant the physical.
Only the Twinkies pass failed physicals. Haven’t we learned that already? They might be a lst place team, in the AL Central because of that.
Well he passed the physical, but it was in the Dominican Republic. I hope he doesn’t have a nasty case of ringworm this year.
SD got it under Cruz control.
Still a contributor, what’s to lose?
$1M?
With AJ Preller, I’m presuming that $1M per at bat, correct?
I guess, if he doesn’t perform, they can cut him loose and not feel too bad.
That was my reaction. Just surprised. After the surgery, I think he will come back nicely.
I think Cruz just wants to play at this point. 43 years old coming off a bad year. It’s more about someone willing to put him in a lineup at this point.
If he could get more would he? Sure. But I don’t think he’s stressing the contract as much as someone who will play him.
This. Cruz got two big contracts out of Seattle and Minnesota. Now its taking what is likely one last shot at a championship before hanging up his bat
I just noticed he’s also 41 homers away from 500. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to hang on long enough to reach that.
his alligator arming out 27 in game 6 of the world series vs st louis demonstrates he has ZERO CARE about winning a world series.
Where is he gonna play? They got the guy from Yankees to mainly be DH already. This makes no sense
You mean Matt Carpenter? At best he’s a platoon player. In reality it’s hard to buy in to that bounce back season. He was dreadful for 3 straight years before the ok season with the Yankees. But like I said even if he does show up, at best he’s a platoon and Cruz would be the right side of that. Chances are pretty good Cruz just wins it outright though when the Padres realize Carpenter is a dud.
“OK season with the Yankees” is one heck of an understatement.
If .305/.412/.727/1.138 with 15 HR in 47 games is OK, I’d love to see what you’d call “good,” let alone “great.”
You do know he had a 2 week stretch where he hit .440 with 7 HRs, right?
He only registered slightly above 100 plate appearances.
I mean, congrats on a good two week stretch but for a SEASON let’s be honest it was ok. If you want to bank on a two week hot stretch to say he’s your full time DH in 2023, truly best of luck lol.
Some of you can’t see the forest through the trees I swear….
He hit 3 HR in May, 4 in June and 9 in July before going on the IL in August.
I guess some of us can’t even see the trees.
BTW, the stats I posted were his “season” numbers.
Carp L DH/1B/LF
Cruz R DH
Neither will get more than 300-350 ABs
More platoon than straight up every game guys
They will play a lot 1st 20 games and then go to more of a match up base when Tatis returns on 4/20/23
I think a lot depends on if Preller trades Kim or holds on to him. If Kim stays he’s the 2B but if he’s traded Cronenworth worth goes back to 2B and Carpenter plays 1B. Plus Carpenter can play some LF and Kim will also see time at SS when Bogaerts needs a day off and both Kim and Carpenter can play 3B in the chance Machado needs a day off
Hitting .300 with 1.000+ OPS for 120 PAs isn’t the same thing as for a full season.
You apparently have no idea how to use the phrase forest through the trees either, because you’re using it wrong.
Let me educate you – it’s saying you can’t see the big picture. I’m literally saying you’re looking at a small sample size and trying to call it a great season when the reality is it’s a fraction of a season.
Telling me I can’t see the trees is like saying I can’t see the small details, even though I literally called out his two week hot stretch accounting for the bulk of his total numbers. Those are literally the trees.
So yes his overall season was ok. You’re missing the big picture. Like I said, good luck if you want to cherry pick such a low sample of at bats to proclaim him a full time DH for 2023.
P.S. I know you think you’re being clever trying to turn around the forest and the trees phrase back on me but all it did was show how dumb you really are
I’d advise not trying to retaliate with something that was obviously over your head in the first place. It wasn’t even meant to be an insult, but because you didn’t understand it whatsoever that’s clearly how you interpreted it so you felt the need to try and fire it back. Poorly at that. Very sad.
Where’s Tatis gonna play then? Not at 3rd, Not at short. Not at 2nd. Plus his defense in the outfield is atrocious.
Tatis is likely playing LF (at least for this coming season). Padres have Grisham in CF who covers a lot of ground defensively and Engle and Azocar for late game defensive subs
I’m quite familiar with the phrase and its meaning, thanks.
You misstated the details — “I mean, congrats on a good two week stretch but for a SEASON let’s be honest it was ok” — hence, your failure to recognize the “trees” of those specific details.
As I showed you, he homered in all three months of his short season and hit the most long balls in his last full month. Had you bothered to consult the details further, you’d have found that his SLG in each of those three months was .615, .870 and .822, respectively.
We all recognize that the sample is small and might not be replicated in a full season. What I replied to was your calling it “an ok season,” which is a ridiculously dismissive description of a performance that was lauded throughout the baseball world as a remarkable comeback for a player thought to be washed up.
You’re really not in a position to take such an overbearing, pedantic tone. It’s generally better when you’re wrong to simply admit it and move on.
And when you resort to insults, you’ve already declared the failure of your argument. What’s sad is that you can’t cope with a conflicting view without lashing out in a fit of pique. But that’s on you, not me.
Getting my popcorn, the woods look just like the trees to me anyway.
truth is no humans are actually able to see a forest ecosystem for what it is as we’re all too wee of brain to contemplate the vast biodiversity of species and processes that operate at all scales of the biological/physiological/chemical spectrum. Nor can we even pretend to comprehend the complex ecological processes and patterns within focal patches that frequently depend on their matrix. Select species of trees are minor constituents to this rich vast web that can only humble us into a deeper appreciation.
But this is just baseball, so simple by comparison. Let’s keep it that way.
And RIP Jeff Beck
cruz over carpenter?? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH.
You really think so? Try throwing a fastball past him now. He’s definitely refined his swing. Carp is back!
I’m sure there’s a ton of incentives, but I’m sure this is more of a last hurrah for Cruz, hoping to win a championship
Damascus, that is it. Nellie wants a ring.
Yeah I just realized that, apparently was offered more elsewhere, but wanted to play with soto Manny Tatis and Xander and get a ring
Is there a jewelry dealer near the stadium in SD? That’s about the only way he is getting a ring.
Salary is only slightly more than the ML minimum. Low risk signing.
For a million even cheap Bob would have signed him.
Did they even try? Doubt it.
Nellie took 1m to be on the padres. The price would have been 10x for Bob.
Sounds like someone overestimates their team’s importance.
Wow. He always took pretty cheap deals for his level of production and then of course the one year he’s paid close to his true peak value he fell off completely, but wow $1M is token at this point. Basically he just wants to keep playing and maybe hopes he bounces back enough for one last real pay day in 2024.
Agree. I’m waiting to hear what incentives are built into the deal.
I think 2023 is his last year. It’s amazing he produced what he did last year.
When he signed that deal with Seattle, it was a BIG number for what was thought to be an aging DH as the 4 years was something of a surprise. He outperformed the heck out of that deal, and did the same for a couple of years in MN as well.
Cruz is Bell’s replacement and is a bargain if he can provide a Pujols-like season.
A Bonds in his prime like season
When was Cruz’s juice suspension? 2013ish. There to teach the kid how it’s done?
Cruz is just signing wherever Juan Soto is playing.
Great deal
Surprised more teams didn’t look at Cruz for a $1M. With his corrected vision, he might be under the shrewdest contract in MLB.
For that price, I can’t believe the A’s didn’t make a play who desperately need some thump in that lineup. Especially if they trade Brown.
I guess Cruz wanted to be with a contender though.
For that price, he isn’t going somewhere like the A’s. Definitely a last hurrah with a contender
exactly!
Cruz wanted to play. A’s want to rebuild. Cruz is not in their future.
Yeah, there must be several incentives. If he meets them, he’ll be well worth the $5-7M. Nice get. If Grisham finds his bat, or gets traded for someone who can play CF, what a nice lineup. Bob Melvin must be fired up!
The price may have been more of a reflection of wanting one last shot at a winner over signing somewhere just to pad stats before retirement
If nothing else he will be a king in the club house with all the latin players in the padres. Manny and Soto love this dude.
That’s probably the reason he chose them, along with their chances to contend. He could’ve gone anywhere if he was just looking for $1M.
No, he couldn’t. Few teams want a full time DH, especially a 43 yr old coming off a bad season.
Yep, and maybe his leadership will help keep Tatis in line.
or they can give each other ringworm
I honestly think counseling Tatis was the primary reason he was signed. The Twins youngsters loved him back in 2019.
Interesting signing.
Honestly the best contract signed all off-season,oh and the twins taking on Correa for only 6 years, which 2 to long
For 1M if he doesn’t work out they can just drop him.
Quest for 500 continues…
Have a feeling Nellie going to be Pujols 2022 like in 2023.. and could see him back in 2024 if he is within 15 to 20 HRs of 500..before becoming a Padres Coach at the MLB level..perhaps our hitting coach or a minor league manager
Prob gets the mlb special invite to the all star game as well.
Cruz is gonna make ALMOST as much as Bobby Bonilla this year…
Can’t believed nobody has replied to say Bravo, good one!!!! Lol……
I, for one, would never sign a known cheater. Just me. You all can have your own opinions. We’re good.
You got a point, that’s for sure. But the Padres have Tatis jr under contract anyway, so why refrain from signing Cruz on a bargain deal?
A more systematical answer would have been to question whether a “known cheater” should be additionally sanctioned after being banned by being boycotted. But I did not want to start that discussion…
Gruß,
BSHH
Oh, get over yourself. You’ve cheated on all kinds of things, just like the rest of us. You remind me of the people who get nostalgic for a past that never existed.
Good pickup for SD. Watch him have a rebound last go ‘round season
If his eye issue was legit, and actually got fixed like he says, this could be a GREAT signing platooning with Carp..
1 million only.. where’s the risk you mention? No risk there
Because who wouldn’t want a 43 year old DH who is coming off eye surgery. So Preller won another bidding war huh?
If Preller outbid people at $1 million, then he wasn’t wanted very much. This was a “I want a ring” deal. Stop the hate. We know you’re jelly of our owner and GM. Deal wit’ it
I don’t hate fools. I pity them. Yeah those Championship rings are piling up for Preller. Hate-LMAO
Most of us would take your owner but pass on your GM.
He’s probably spent or committed about 3 billion dollars with nothing to show for it. I spent about 20 bucks once my boss didn’t authorize on the company account once and got suspended. The fact This guy still has a job is mystifying.
@ unclemike. I wouldn’t call being a game or two sway away from winning pennant and being in WS last year “nothing to show for it”, but okay.
This was a “I want to keep playing” deal. Washington didn’t want him back, but he’s championship material. If it makes you feel better, sure.
This is slightly better than a minor league deal with an invite to camp. There is a good chance he’s not on the roster by July.
Why weren’t there 29 other teams willing to pay way more?
Reports are he passed on way higher deals to be on a world series contender
Reports are he passed on way higher deals to be on a playoff contender
No, Manny is correct: World Series contender.
Dodgers Padres Atlanta Mets and Phillies are all clearly WS contenders, Dodgers fan was just ribbing you
Reports from who?
Do the Padres also have to pay for his PEDs on top of the $1MM, or does he pay out of his own pocket since the club can’t acknowledge them (so his $1MM salary is more like $950K net to NC)?
PED jokes are almost as funny as Big Johnson jokes. You so smart. You so funny.
Based on last year, looks like he stopped taking them
Love this signing.
I was hoping Franmil Reyes if they were looking for another bat, but for $1M bucks why not? With the universal DH taking up an extra bench spot with a bat only guy like Cruz really isn’t a big deal especially with all the guys SD has with positional versatility. Cruz will be a great clubhouse guy and mentor for Tatis and Soto.
Up to this day I still prefer Reyes over Renfoe via trades. Reyes although lacking in average, due largely to the shift (both players actually), Reyes always had the better eye. Power was there for both. And contact was decent for both as well.
Or Duvall
I think the difference between Duvall and Cruz is about $8 MM a year, so that might factor into it.
Hmm.. I’m not saying the Belt deal was a mistake, but Cruz at 1 million looks so much better than Belt at 9.3.
I’m not saying you are wrong but, looking at team needs, what part of old, right-hand hitting, DH-only appeals to you?
Belt’s body is just as old from all those injuries, Belt has no real utility in the field and there’s other guys who could spell Vladdy at 1B for 10 games, and a guy who’s always mashed LHP appeals because the Jays were terrible against LHP last year.
Sure, I’d rather have Belt at the exact same price, but not by much.
Well done Pads and Cruz.. Surprised he took only 1 mil, but we’ll see how it goes.
Appears he turned down more $$ to play for Padres
$1 million? Wow! His platoon splits vs LHP are good, even in a down year for him.
I actually thought he would sign with the Marlins and get an every day role.
Really? Why. There comes a time when a player needs to accept reality and retire with dignity. Why the Padres play enabler is a mystery.
A ring.
Meh…
James Earl Jones might have been cheaper.
And I would have taken less than Big Jim, in fact, I would have signed for half mill, just dont know why AJ didnt take my offer.
If they use the 37 year old Carpenter and Cruz as the DH, their DH tandem is 80 yrs old.. That’s around 20 years older than the owner, 20 older than the manager, and almost 60 years older than Tatis Jr.
my dad is 80 and shoots his age in golf, so anything’s possible
9 holes?
It also forces them to play Carp in the field. Gotta love a guy who plays poorly anywhere.
I’m thinking if they add a starter it will be via trade and it will probably be a Marlins starter because all the other teams that would trade a good starter right now are rebuilding and thus would only want prospects – something the Padres don’t have.
if Cruz DHs more than just against LH pitchers and Carpenter plays mostly 1B (rather than OF/DH) then Cronz is mostly at 2B (where he belongs) and Kim is odd man out or super-sub. Cruz might flop so they’d be wise not to trade Kim before replacing Cruz (trade deadline).
If a WS truly is the ambition, then I think they will need to add a #1 or #2 level starter at the trade deadline, assuming one is available. Myabe a rental but preferably addressing the long-term then. I can’t think of who tha might be though.
Honestly I’m confused by the roster make up as it stands; Kim out of position at 2B, Cronz out of position at 1B, Tati’s return full of questions but even if he’s fine – he’s no longer SS but an unproven OF and that’s his only place to be. Then there’s Grisham a CF who hasn’t hit in 2 years. Carpenter a position player maybe? Campy’s playing time a big question.
Sure keeping us guessing…
Kim is far and away their best defender at SS. Bogaerts is the one who should be changing positions.
Absotively!!!
Kim is getting traded to a team that needs a shortstop. He deserves to play at his strength position, not 2B.
Xactly. Preller does not know how to build a team. Just get a bunch of high priced guys and plug em in somewhere. Starting pitching? Is that a thing?
I think Marlin SP are more hype than great..just good with risk…
I see AJP looking at $60mil + arb incoming in Brewer land and trading for Lauer or Houser at a fraction of the cost (trade resources wise)..and getting exactly what Pads need (Lauer the LAD killer + inning eater)
@ Henry. You always have valuable input on Pads, just want to say thanks. I tend to agree in your assessment on the Marlins SPs. As for Lauer, I wonder if he’ll be able to dominate LA now that LA’s lineup is so different (and depleted) than recent years?! Hopefully the magic hasn’t faded and he has the same success against JD Martinez. Trayce Thompson, Miguel Vargas and Miguel Rojas.
I think the Pads need to move very carefully on the next SP acquisition. They have depth options at SP #4-#8. They have 3 solid SPs, very good but not quite aces. In the playoffs you need guys that good or better. Lauer isn’t who I want pitching game 1 or 2 in the playoffs.
So, if they’re going to compete for a WS, I’d like to see them aim very high and that might have to wait unti the trade deadline when they might be able to acquire a #1/#2 type SP, on either a long-term deal (not likely) or as a rental (most likely). I’m not sure who that SP will be though, any thoughts on potential rentals at midseason TD?
This next offseason is critical, AJP needs to figure out how to bridge the next few years until Lesko, Snelling, Mazur and Lizarraga are ready to graduate.
I remember him doing so well for the Orioles in 2014…they wouldn’t give him a 4th year when they negotiated on a deal (the year in question was 2018) because they didn’t think he’d produce, but he did very well 3 years past that.
Hopefully he’s able to play well this year and at least go out on a good note.
Man, the braves paid more for luplow then they could have got Cruz for. This is bs.
They don’t have Machado, Soto and Tatis. That clubhouse and team going to be fun.
He left better money on the table per obvious reports.
Luplow is the better player at this point. He’s worth more.
Isn’t Cruz worth $ 1m (plus CBT surcharges) on name recognition alone? Anyway – Preller makes mistakes on a regular basis, but the Padres have become much more interesting under his watch. I think this brings substantial value for a smaller-market team in itself.
Gruß,
BSHH
Probably already sold $1 million in jerseys since news broke…..lol
If he can help Tatis, Jr. stay focused on baseball only, it’ll be well worth it.
Absolutely. Cruz had an absolute steller career for a decade after using PED’s and apologizing. Hopefully he can keep Tatis on the straight and narrow…..
Cruz should be getting way more than $1M. Have some respect for the game
He’s good buddies with Machado, Soto, and Tatis..Seems like winding down the career so I want to play with my friends deal to me.
Rumors are also that the Padres have hit their spending limit..so AJ probably told him he wants to make it happen, but a mil’s all he’s got.
Feels right for everyone involved to me..
He also got $3 million from the Nats in a buyout, so he sorta made $4 million the last couple months.
“… but Carpenter is also capable of playing some first base and outfield.”
Outfield? Carp? Nah.
Good signing, though. Cruz is great against lefties.
I’m glad it’s only for $1million million. The $15million million he got from Washington last year was way to much for this aging undependable DH
Cruz may have been the only person to appreciate last years Nationals, that is positive.
Ok
If his struggles were truly incited by fixable vision problems, the Padres will be stacked if Cruz becomes pre-2020 version.
Get the nap room ready, San Diego!
Get off our lawn!!!
So, by signing Cruz, Carpenter and Stammen, the franchise just might have to change its name from Padres to Abuelos. :: rimshot ::
Seriously, though, not a bad signing to add another proven bat on the roster. With other NL contenders in an arms race, offensive depth in the starting nine is going to be critical.
The question is, is the offensive potential of Cruz — even if in a platoon — greater than Profar?
He’s uncle Dominican GM to Tatis, that’s the biggest reason for the signing
Getting a cool mil to suck
Who is Monica Lewinsky, Alex?
Freakin hilarious!!
Sharp, quick mind, Gwynning. How do you do that ? Would have taken me two weeks to come up with that witty riposte.
Thanks Ignant one! Jokes are like puzzles- make each piece a movable object and sometimes just applying one subject to an unrelated one can be the ticket to a chuckle. As an aside, are you the same IgnantSOB on The Athletic? I (usually) love your take(s) haha, be well amigo!
That’s me! Thanks my brother, have a relaxing weekend.
I’ll be sure to say hi when I see ya there, and enjoy your weekend too!
and I just thought he just forgot to put the f after mil
The Padres. LOL!
Are there any incentives or is it literally just $1M I realize how bad his 2022 was BUT if you assume some due to eye and just HOW good he had been, yes he’s quite old, but for $1M I’d think teams would’ve had interest in seeing how he looks in spring training!
Vamos Nelson!! ¡Únete a los dominicanos Sammy Sosa, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez y Albert Pujols en el club de los 500 jonrones! 41 para ir!!
Interestingly… his avg EV and hard hit rate were still pretty impressive last year. unfortunately he hit far too many groundballs but, personally, I think that’s something that isn’t 100% age related decline… more swing mechanics etc. he could be quite the steal at $1M. Even if he just hits .250 with 20HR in part time role. That’s quite a steal at $1M
Cruz is a leader in PED usage
Go Padres!!
Dr. Evil happy, “One million dollars”
ONE mil? ONE? How were more teams not in on Cruz at this price? It’s basically league minimum which is a deal even for a bench bat you’ll DFA later in the season. But upside is huge for such a pittance.
Respect for Cruz. I hope he gets hot in 2023.
But . . . he may be a casualty of a loaded 25-man roster if he does not produce.
no respect for someone who alligator arms the world series game winning out because they’re afraid of hitting the outfield wall. ZERO.
He’s always been underrated because he was a DH but it looks like age has finally caught up to him and he’s at the end of the road.
Low risk/high reward.
Let’s hope for SD’s sake he remembers where he put his juice after last year.
Hid it in Nandos hair
Fraudnando’s hair lmao
Maybe he’s going to juice his eyes this time? I kid, that sounds painful lol
Well if meth heads shoot under their tongue lol
Reminiscent of when San Diego hosted the antique likes of Johnny Unitas and Mickey Lolich. Rickey imitating Rickey.
Jesse Orosco, Greg Maddux, Graig Nettles, Fred Lynn, even Larry Andersen.
Willie McCovey and Podres of the Padres.
Nelson Cruz can teach the lads how to tip their bowler derbies to the worthier foes, and what “Whoa, Nelly!” really meant.
Don’t forget Doug Rader!
Great career! But washed-up since July ’21.
Not a proponent of elongated careers under the guise of “veteran leadership”, “something’s still left in the tank”, or a sad attempt of teaching personal statistic goals or elusive championships and even though last year was a huge drop off typically indicative of the end of a career, he had recent success and is coming off a procedure to greatly improve his vision. Considering how much other waning veterans have recently received, Cruz must be signing with his primary choice. Good luck, fella!
How about extending a career because he was better last year against LHP than any Padre DH and eye surgery might make him even better?
Get a minor surgery done, apply for a therapeutic use exemption for stuff to heal, juice again.
Cruz will hit Tijuana pharmacies as often as he can.
Pretty sure now that he corrected his vision issues, dude is gonna smash again. Also really would like to see him reach 500 homeruns, he’s a late bloomer so there is hope!
Cruz can school Tatis on how to evade the ringworm checkers.
If you’re still playing professional ball at 42, you should be allowed to use steroids. All sports.
Greetings from Waimanalo.
Mahalo Preller. This is a minimum risk, high upside signing. Nellie was pretty good on a platoon basis last season and if the eye surgery helps him recover his eye at the plate it could be a great deal for the Padres.
Regardless of whether Nellie bounces back or just repeats 2022, a platoon of Nellie and Carpenter will be a huge upgrade over the guys that inhabited the DH position for the Padres in 2022.
If Cruz is taking a 40-man roster spot, then the Padres have only 39 players on their their 40 man. He is washed up. His bat speed is down. Maybe his eyesight. Etter to have brought back Jurickson.
That’s pretty dire.
Profar is hoping for some DUI arrests during spring training to “inspire” a team to sign him.
there is literally NO ONE i want less on my roster than this pretty boy loser. TEXAS LITERALLY LOST THE WORLD SERIES CUZ THIS SOFT LOSER WAS SCARED OF THE WALL WHEN OUT 27 IN GAME 6 OF THE WORLD SERIES AGAINST ST LOUIS WAS HIT OVER HIS HEAD.
that’s right… NOT MAYBE INJURING HIS V RUNNING INTO THE WALL WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CATCHING THE FINAL OUT OF THE WORLD SERIES.
Why are you shouting Sally?
It took this long? I wonder how many doctors they needed. Maybe, they consulted the Mets’ and Giants’ doctors, in addition to their own?
He will have a monster start then get booked for steroids Manny styles! He has always been juicing especially in Texas!!
Do you have real proof? Or, is this an inflammatory comment, just like 99% of your posts?
He can teach Tatis how to evade PED tests
haha he sure can!
Cruz is on the short list for the Hall of Scoundrels
Good pickup for the Pods
Good pickup for the PEDs
You all think he is coming to SD for 1 ring?
Truth be told he is coming to SD to win TWO rings in 2023…
After all he is the Manager/player of the DR team
$1M for a babysitter for Fernando Ringworm Jr.
I wouldn’t trust that physical. They treat Ringworm with banned substances!
When Cruz was apart of the M’s club he was well regarded as a player, and as a fan favorite though do to eventual changes in team construct which valued more versatility, whereas Cruz was thought of as a DH. which the team preferred to make that position filled by other team members not to mention he did carry a high price tag for his services though that has really changed with the one million signing do to decline in his performances hopefully that might change given his circumstances.
With Federal taxes and California screw-rich- people tax , at $1 million he’ll be playing for meal money .
With federal taxes and sky high California income tax, he’ll be playing for meal money,