Today marks the two-year anniversary of the Twins announcing a free agent deal with Nelson Cruz. The then-38-year-old received a one-year, $14.3MM guarantee with a $12MM club option covering the 2020 season.
At the time, Cruz was coming off an incredible four-year run with the Mariners. He had hit .284/.362/.546 during his time in Seattle. By measure of weighted runs created plus, the slugger was the sport’s eighth-most productive hitter between 2015-18 (minimum 600 plate appearances). Nevertheless, Cruz’s age and lack of defensive value as a full-time designated hitter limited him to a single year guarantee.
After a surprising Wild Card berth in 2017, the Twins slumped to a 78-84 season in 2018. Surely, the front office hoped that signing Cruz would install an elite bat into the middle of the order and help Minnesota’s lineup emerge as one of the best in the league. That’s precisely how things played out.
If anything, the already-great Cruz took his offensive game to another level in 2019. He hit a career-best .311/.392/.639 with 41 home runs in just 521 plate appearances. As a team, Minnesota slugged a record 307 homers that year en route to an AL Central title. That made exercising the 2020 option a no-brainer. Cruz again mashed at an elite level and helped the Twins to their second consecutive division championship this past season.
Now 40 years old, Cruz is again a free agent, facing the same questions he faced last time he was on the open market (and the time before that). He offers nothing defensively and is among the oldest players in the sport. Yet Cruz has shown no signs of decline at the plate; on the contrary, he’s coming off arguably the two best offensive seasons of his career.
Another deal between the Twins and Cruz makes plenty of sense. Minnesota again looks like one of the best teams in the American League, although the pursuit of another division title looks more difficult than ever thanks to the White Sox’s emergence as a legitimate contender. The past two division crowns haven’t led to any postseason success, which the Twins no doubt hope to change in 2021. The parties have remained in contact this winter. No deal has come together to this point amidst uncertainty about whether the DH will expand to the National League, which would obviously open up Cruz’s market.
Whoa, a Methuselah rookie card!
It’s nice to have you back Dynamite drop.
Cccrrrruuuuuuzzzz!!!
Cruz has half the production that Joseph of Aramathea had at the same age in A.D. 46!!!?
The best signing in recent memory.
So I see “this date in transaction history” and I’m like, wonder if I’ll remember and then I see, uh, 2019.
Not exactly the way back machine ha…
Pre-covid was eons ago.
I can’t wait for the “this date in transaction history” randy arozarena edition… (cards fan here).
Arozarena looked good for a spell and the FO have seemed to trade away the wrong prospects of late but I think it’s a little early to give him a ton of hype. Remember Schwarber took the Cubs on his back in 2016 but just got nontendered it happens all the time
Biogenesis
The mistake everyone makes is in assuming that you lose all the muscle mass from steroids after you stop taking them. If you continue to lift regularly, you’ll maintain most of what you gained. Clearly that’s what Nelson Cruz has done, and while I admire the effort he puts into doing that, I’m also not going to pretend that he would have gotten to where he is without anabolics.
You are giving WAY too much credit to PEDs. Good hitters are good hitters, PEDs or not. It might have added a few homers, but you are making it sound like he’s a 10 homer fringe major leaguer if it weren’t for the juice.
Not what I’m saying at all. Cruz was never a bad hitter. He wouldn’t have a 1.000 OPS in his late 30s if it weren’t for that hormone boost though. This isn’t hard to figure out.
They started testing in 2012? Cruz tested positive once in 2013? He didn’t crack the scene til 28 in 2009? He wasn’t ever really consistent before 2009 then didn’t have great years in 2010 or 2011? They were ok years, nothing jumped off the charts. Even if the steroids helped him gain muscle he never lost I think he only tested positive once and has put up his best numbers at age 35+? Wouldn’t he also have had good numbers in 2010 and 2011 if steroids were helping him so much? I’m no expert on these things, I just don’t see Cruz as the same as Ramirez, Rodriquez, Bonds, Canseco, Clemens, McGuire, Sosa, or Palmero. I see him as Ryan Braun, but much better offensively. If the steroids are still helping Cruz, why are they still not helping Braun?
If he plays two more years like the last two and somehow reaches 500 hr, HOF?
As far as I know he’s never been popped for a PEDs violation (even tho I’m pretty sure…) so yes I think so.
50 game suspension in 2013. Biogenesis.
Ah…well he must have figured out a way to use a designer drug cuz he still hits HRs at an advanced age. That, plus a career devoid of any defensive value…I say no.
Proof? Or could be that you answered your own doubts. The guy is a DH. He’s not putting that big a toll on the body.
If that were true about not putting a strain on the body how has Mike (Giancarlo) Stanton only managed about 125 at bats in 2 seasons?
Because he’s made of papier-mâché
Stanton is one of the best Crash Test Dummies to ever wear the pinstripes!!! He steps on 1st base he strains a calf muscle, he slides into 3rd he tears his rotator cuff… I predict like in the Naked Gun, this year he’ll play the outfield and try to rob a home run, only to have his head fall off and go on the DL for total decapitation, and his head will give interviews saying how disappointed he is, and how he just has to keep his head up and limbs together somehow, then post photos on twitter of some new model gf looking for extra subscribers and a man who makes over 30 million a year, every year, on the DL
If Harold Babies can get on the HOF… Cruz is a 2nd ballot shoe in!!! Steroids or not… Baines officially makes it easier for everyone, including Willie Mays Hayes, and Rick the Wild Thing Vaughn
Harold Baines you fool, learn how to edit your own comments, it’s people like you who ruin the internet!!!! Geezz
Harold Babies, we make our dreams come true
Harold Babies, we’ll do the same for you !
The behind the scenes packages about him from FSNorth shows that he might be 40, but the love of the game is there, plus the mentor role is something he excels at. The preperation is next level. Bringing in home cooked meals that the other Dominicans request, alot of bonuses to bringing Cruz back to Twins on top of high quality ABs and mvp type production.
Cruz is proof that you CAN beat time. Julio Franco is still hitting somewhere but he never had Cruz’ power. I bet whoever signs him is going to get their money’s worth.
*proof that anything is possible with the right juice
You got that right!
Proof that time isnt 100% linear indeed for players
The notion that all players regress at the same rate has always irked me in the simplicity in which it gets thrown around in here
Look at Lebron in year 17 for no better example
Just like WAR for players. Just because 1.0 is worth X dollars doesn’t mean teams shpuld spend in that manner.
bingo
I get irked by people who use the word irked, but it’s your God given right I suppose
7 straight All star games
5 top 10 Mvp seasons in the last 7 years
Avg 43.8 hrs per 600 abs last 7 years with an avg OPs of over 900
Theres not a bigger bang for your buck today on the free agent market than the Boomstick
I hope he gets a go in the NL this year to share the joy for NL fans –
Every player in the history of baseball — other than known PED users — has seen a decline in their performance and numbers as they age into their late 30’s. Cruz is in his 40’s, and he is not only not declining, his performance/numbers are getting better. Plus he was suspended for PED use in 2013, for 50 games, and his name came up again in 2018, connected to PED use. Pretty obvious what’s going on here, unless you want desperately to believe that Nelson Cruz has somehow discovered the Fountain of Youth and done what no player ever in the history of the game has been able to do — beat Father Time. And yet some people continue to give this guy a pass. Smh
Lol you’re probably just a mad Mariners fan
Why would a Mariners fan be mad about Cruz? They needed to let him go because bringing him back (and having the same offense again in 2019) wasn’t the answer.
Mariners fans still love Cruz
I’m a Mariner fan and like Cruz too, not at all salty just choose to live in reality.
Cruz is on the juice
To deny is to deny reality.
Who cares. “PEDs” or not, these guys still have to condition, they have to know the game, they have to put forth maximum effort. It’s entertainment, for Christ sakes.
I, for one, have grown incredibly bored with the two + decades and counting of endless hand wringing, browbeating and pedestal sermonizing over something that is not simple enough to be dismissed as “cheating” out of hand. It’s not the players fault the league has been continually lagging behind the science when it comes to policing it. Let them use whatever they want, I say.
Now let’s push this giant ball of oil out the window.
I concur, not just chicks like the long ball. Cruz can juice his way into cooperstown for all I care, the voting itself is subject to more scrutiny in my eyes.
Let em all in, it’s a hall of fame and they’re the most famous who played because they were the best. End of story.
Yes. It took me a long time to come around to this position, but I say let em in if the numbers warrant it. Why? Because there are cheaters already in the Hall.
I agree. Pete Rose being excluded from the HOF is ridiculous. His numbers are more than Hall of Fame worthy.
The Hall of Fame should be about the best players.
Read the Dowd report. I loved Charlie hustle. Joe average who busted ass and was phenomenal. That report puts it all in perspective.
I’ll let every juicer entry, in exchange for kicking Harold Baines out…DEAL????
I agree with you Tom. Only reason I brought it up was the HoF question.
I agree, i love watching players destroy their body for my entertainment. Amputate their arms and give them robot arms! Think of the home runs!!
Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Don’t forget the exhillirating feeling of your favorite players at age 35 getting benign tumors(Giambi), that’s the best part of our present national pastime
Nonsense! If he was using, he would have been caught by now. The guy is legit. M’s should resign him.
Trade to get Cano back too
Cruz must be using the much heralded same workout routine of Roger Clemens, who got better at age 44
In 1971, over 573 AB a 38 year old Hank Aaron set career highs in the following statistics:
47 HR
.410 OBP
.669 SLG
191 wRC+
Two years later, at age 40, he did the following over 465 AB:
40 HR
.402 OBP
.643 SLG
177 wRC+
In between, at age 39, he “only” did this:
34 HR
.390 OBP
.514 SLG
148 wRC+
At age 41 he had a 125 wRC+, 98 at age 42, and 102 at age 43, his final season.
How many years until Cruz performs at avg or below?
When will his age catch up with him?
What a surprise — there are idiots on the internet who think cheating is okay.
Cheating has been a part of baseball since before your parents were born. Also, try to learn how to reply to the correct comment. What does it take to change the essence of a man?
“its well established so its fine” is logic that will get you far if you are a politician
What if cheating didn’t start till after I was born, would it make a difference? Or would I atleast have right to argue then?…or should we rule, anything that has been frowned upon but has some level of existence before one was born, can not be complained about… Rape and murder have also existed before I was born too, should I just say let the boys be boys?? Your really irking me lol
Imagine calling someone an idiot, whilst making an idiotic comment. Must be hard to be so dumb.
@Nat King Kong – I am guessing that you didn’t intend to reply to my comment. The response doesn’t fit.
if Manny signing in Australia and Bonds beating Giancarlo in a HR derby is any indication, then id say he’s got some time as long as he stays on the juice.
I’m more interested in when his age becomes higher than his season HR count. 43? 47? Heck probably 52 seeing the trend he’s on.
Cruz was a great Mariner and not just because he hit his homers. He was great teammate and a good community member. I’ll never forget him finishing the 2017 season with a terrible wrist injury, but it didn’t keep him from showing up to play every day. I remember him screaming at the plate on a check swing against the Twins and hitting the next pitch out. The Boomstick will always be one of my favorites.
As a Mariner fan I agree completely. Dude was a boss. I hate to see them waste the DH spot with losers.
He’s no Jay Buhner
If Cruz was to somehow go into the HoF is he a Mariner?
Well, considering Cooperstown lies on the banks of the picturesque Lake Otsego, it’s possible. Of course, he must purchase a ticket as well.
I wonder if the White Sox might go ahead and snag him away from the Twins? Especially if it’s a 1 year deal.
“these guys still have to condition, they have to know the game, they have to put forth maximum effort.”
This is probably the dumbest thing ever posted on this site. A lack of basic intelligence and a crappy sense of humor is a horrible combination.
Nelson Cruz: Loser Cheater.
It is crazy that people are so down on Cruz. One of my favorite Mariner’s of all time.
I’ll take Raul Ilbanez any day over Nelson Cruz, Ted Cruz, Penelope Cruz, and even Tom Cruise for that matter, Tom Cruise could explain to everyone the dangers of steroids and anti depressants, but I still wouldn’t take him on my roster!!!
Padres sign Cruz or Brantley