Nelson Cruz
Position: Designated Hitter
Bats/Throws: R/R
Age: 41 (7/1/1980)
Traditional Stats: 140 G, 584 PA, .265 BA, .334 OBP, .497 SLG, .832OPS, 32 HR, 86 RBI, 79 R
Advanced Stats: 122 wRC+, 2.0 fWAR, 2.5 bWAR, .358 xwOBA, 8.7 BB%, 21.6 K%, .192 ISO, .258 BABIP
Rundown
Could Nelson Cruz make an end-of-career return to the National League? Cruz, now 41, began his career in 2005 with the Milwaukee Brewers where he logged just eight games played. Since then he’s been on five teams in 16 years, smashing home runs in every ballpark across America.
Cruz spent the majority of his last three seasons in Minnesota. As a Twin, he was described as a tremendous clubhouse presence. In 2019, he hit 41 home runs with 108 runs batted in over just 120 games. During the shortened 2020 he had 16 home runs and 33 runs batted in across 53 games.
Cruz was traded from Minnesota midseason to Tampa Bay in 2021. Unfortunately, his overall numbers looked like the Cruz from a decade ago with a batting average hovering around .260 and a home run total in the low 30’s.
He was a much better player in 85 games in Minnesota last season than in 55 games with Tampa Bay. With the Twins, he slashed .294/.379/.537 but it dropped to .226/.283/.442. with the Rays.
Cruz could not overcome the terrible batter’s eye at Tropicana Field. In 25 games at the Rays home park, Cruz hit .211/.270/.333 with three home runs. Cruz is hardly the first player to have an extreme difference in splits for the Rays. Just look at what Willy Adames did last year once he went to the Brewers or the splits from Joey Wendle last season.
Cruz has played one game in the field over the last three seasons. The Rays threw him into right field for seven innings in late August. He went seven for seven on putouts. Still, he prefers to spend half the game on the bench.
Contract
The Twins signed Cruz to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Twins heading into the 2021 season. Ultimately he was traded to the Rays as a move of good faith to help him chase a World Series title.
Cruz knows he’s not going to receive a long-term deal at his age. The seven-time All-Star is at a point where a World Series win is the only attainable thing missing from his resume. I see Cruz signing with a National League team that’s set to contend for this season now that the universal DH is in place. The Braves and Mets both make sense for a one-year deal that won’t exceed $10 million.
Recommendation
You know what you get with Nelson Cruz. The Mets aren’t in a position to let players find their groove. The time is now to compete and you know what you’re getting with him. No bat on the current Mets bench is better than what Cruz provides. Signing him opens a clear door to trading away Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis for pitchers the Mets desperately need.
