Hard-throwing Diamondbacks reliever Juan Cruz will be eligible for free agency for the first time after this season, and he’s been looking forward to it. The 29 year-old boasts a massive strikeout rate, but problems with the free pass persist. This year he’s missed time with oblique and neck injuries. In ’06 and ’07, it was his shoulder.
Cruz is younger than most other free agent relievers, so he might be able to snag a multiyear deal at $3-4MM per year. Nick Piecoro says Cruz hasn’t had any talks with the D’Backs about an extension; look for him to sign elsewhere.
