Nov 6: As expected, the Nationals have officially declined their 2023 Mutual Option on Nelson Cruz.
Oct 15: Talk Nats reports that the Nationals are expected to decline their half of a $16MM mutual option with righty slugger Nelson Cruz for the 2023 season, instead opting to pay him a $3MM buyout on the option. Additionally, Cruz, who had been previously reported to be undergoing eye surgery sometime this month, has undergone the procedure this past week.
Washington’s decision is no surprise after a difficult season for Cruz, who slashed just .234/.313/.337 in 507 PA in 2022, posting his first below average offensive season by measure of wRC+ since his age 26 season back in 2007. Given his age (he turned 42 this past July) and down year in 2022, it’s a fair question to wonder what sort of market he might find for his services this offseason, particularly given his inability to play the field at this stage in his career. Cruz hasn’t regularly taken the field since 2015, and hasn’t played anything other than DH since 2018, barring seven innings spent at first base in a single game for the Rays last year. It’s difficult to imagine any clear contenders wanting to lock up their DH slot with an aging bat who performed at a below-average offensive level in 2022, particularly given the number of teams who prefer to cycle their every day players through the DH slot as an opportunity to provide them extra rest.
Cruz may be able to find a market nonetheless, however. His aforementioned eye surgery provides a possible explanation for his struggles this season, and hope it can be corrected headed into 2023. Combined with his lengthy track record as an all star caliber bat and his reputation as a leader in the clubhouse, the procedure on his eye could give some teams enough confidence to offer Cruz a major league deal this offseason, though salary offers surely won’t come close to the $18MM guarantee he received with the Nationals in 2022.
Speculatively speaking, a reunion with the Brewers or the Rangers this offseason could make some sense. Both teams are in dire need of added offensive firepower this season, but with the Brewers facing a massive arbitration class in 2022, and the Rangers also in dire need of rotation reinforcements, a low-cost flier on Cruz could make more sense than a splashier, more surefire addition. Another potential fit could be found with the Guardians, who have shocked most of the baseball world by beating out the White Sox and Twins for the AL Central title and have since knocked the Rays out of the postseason and stand tied with the Yankees 2 games into the ALDS. Despite the impressive season, the Guardians have struggled offensively this year, especially when compared to other postseason clubs. Having moved on from another DH-only righty slugger in Franmil Reyes earlier this season, and sporting an extremely youthful roster, Cruz’s veteran presence and potential with the bat could make sense. Given the Guardians are a franchise that rarely has the budget space available to make impact additions, the low price tag that will likely be attached to Cruz is another reason for Cleveland to be interested in the slugger.
Questionable source…
Anyone could tell you the Nationals aren’t gonna pay Nelson Cruz $16M in his age 43 season
Father Time still unbeaten
Something tells me the source was common sense.
Time to hang up the cleats.
Nelson’s toast. Scary thing is that there were stories off-season last year in some NY papers for that the Mets were considering him. He was 41. He was getting crispy in 2020. He must have gotten hold of Mrs Clemens cookie recipe before 2021. But he gets blown away by fastballs this year. Yep, toast.
A well respected hitter who stayed effective very late in his career, but yaaaaaaaaa done!
Yeah, that .992 OPS in 2020 made it so obvious he was toast…
Did he finally stop taking his anti aging medicine?
You mean his steroids? Doubt it.
Exactly.
Ortiz never dropped off like this. Kept roiding until he led the league in slugging at 40
What’s strategy behind mutual options? If the player has a good year, he’s opting out; if the player has a bad year, the team is opting out. They’re used frequently, but almost never taken. There has to be some advantage that’s not immediately obvious.
I get it from the players side but not the owners.
That’s actually a really good question.
They are probably good for the role players and middle relievers.
It spreads out the cost of the contract and lowers AAV.
That’s really the only benefit for a mutual option.
@jbigz12, now that makes sense!
I wonder if it can be used as a way to defer money. Essentially a 21 million dollar contract at worst, or only an 18 million contract if he performs well an opts out.
It’s because Juan Soto wanted him there was it’s pointless when u look at it now but the nationals were tryin to keep their star happy and we all saw how that played out
This is no surprise. I hope Nelson Cruz lands on another team and gets 280 TB.
Only if he goes back on steroids.
This was a rather pointless signing for both sides
Not really. The Nats needed a DH and while everyone knew they were in for a bad year i don’t think anyone thought they would as bad as they were and no one expected Cruz’ offense to crater as bad as it did.
I think it was also an olive branch to Juan Soto. Giving him more support in the lineup and from a teammate he admires. Which became pointless only after the trade deadline.
Cruz should have prioritized a team making the playoffs for a final run and Washington should have used the spot for a reclaim project to trade.
Pointless
In theory, Cruz was a chip they could trade to a contender at the deadline. I don’t think anybody expected him to still be in DC after August 1st.
Yep. Strictly a trade chip. His offense cratered so much, he couldn’t be traded. Kind of surprised he wasn’t released after the deadline.
Yep. Strictly a trade chip. The year he had made him impossible to trade. Kind of surprised he wasn’t released after the deadline.
They could have put Yadiel there and given playing time to Joey Meneses. I saw balls that Cruz fouled off straight back and i kept thinking he would have doubled or better off that pitch just two years ago.
Also a well-liked vet in the clubhouse.
The Braves should sign him and stick him in right. He is a better player than Acuna.
Word, yo
Just suck it, TradeAcuna.
Haha, relax. I know it is disappointing Acuna ended up being a flop, but it is time to hit reality and trade him. He is a liability. Trade him while you can and get some players back.
Braves won the WS without Acuna. They lost 4x with him. Not saying he is at fault (albeit he was terrible this season), the Braves don’t need him.
Braves fans are embarrassed that you are a Braves fan. And I’m far from a Braves fan.
I couldn’t care less what they think and never will. People are still in denial if they still think Acuna will ever be relevant. At this point, it is laughable they find excuses for this guy.
This organization won a championship with a far inferior team last season and all without your precious Acuna. The Braves do not need Acuna and hopefully this Braves staff realizes how much of a liability he is to the team.
This was one of the most likeable and best Braves teams in recent memory. This season feels like a waste now but I hope they rethink their plan and make significant changes for next season.
@Acunaisoverrated
You are still clueless and will always be clueless.
Acuna had a major injury. Doing an ACL is no easy injury to come back from, just like doing a UCL for a pitcher is no joke. Any athlete that even gets back on the field after a major injury is a success story.
You probably never played any sport or had any injuries, so as I said, you’re clueless. Furthermore, Acuna was 5-15 as a leadoff hitter in this series, he had an OBP of .412 in this short series.
In 2022 Acuna did not have a full spring training, he played 119 games, his spring training was minor league games.
There are a multitude of reasons the Braves did not win this series, none of them had anything to do with Acuna, the only few things he did wrong was he maybe should have caught Castellanos fly ball in Game 1, but then again, it was a day game, and I believe he didn’t pick it up straight off the bat, the other play was not busting his backside to get over and back up Harris on Realmuto’s hit off the wall to prevent him from completing an in the park home run.
Acuna is just 24, all of this season’s stats are down a bit, but what did you expect from him coming off major injury? Next year when he has a full spring training will be the real evaluator to see how the recovery from his injury has progressed. You call it “excuses”, these are facts.
MLB is a joke and a farce now anyway with multiple wild cards ‘rewarding’ teams that come 3rd that get a chance in the post season when they should not be in the post season, period, so find something else or someone else to beat up on.
It is clear now. Rather than Acuna, Trump chop avatar needs Swanson to be face of Braves following Chipper and Freddie.
Why don’t you just say what you mean- you hate Acuna because he’s a flashy player, and that’s clearly not what you like. You try to talk circles around it and you just end up sounding foolish, OP. You just said a guy who can’t play the field at 43 is better than Acuna. Say that aloud and listen to how ridiculous you sound.
Cleveland doesn’t need to waste a 40 man spot.
Since payroll will be tight elsewhere, I could see the Mets grabbing him as a platoon DH with Vogelbach. Unless they decide to keep Vientos and Alvarez on the ML team, rotating both in the role whenever Alvarez is not catching.
Stay far away. A 42 Year old who cannot catch up with a fastball will not get better in his 43rd year. It is time for Nelson to retire.
Vogelbach won’t even be dhing much next year. Alvarez, Baty and Vientos will all be getting AB’s. The DH will be revolving door of players getting days off. No need to sign anyone to DH.
I can see Vientos as a possible trade chip for pitching
Duh.
Maybe someone like the Brewers or Rays take a shot at him. Low market teams might want to invest in DH and give him a chance at a low price.
As a Mets fan I would rather go after J. Abreu or Josh Bell to DH.
Excellent decision by the Nationals as well as an easy decision.
I think a lot of the drop in production had to do with his eyes. Have you ever tried hitting a baseball with good vision much less poor vision? His production will end up being somewhere between his 2021 and 2022 season.
Needs to ask Albert for his leftovers in the fridge , now that Albert has completed the last hurrah.
Oakland A’s need to sign Nelly Cruz ASAP!
“Speculatively speaking, a reunion with the Brewers or the Rangers this offseason could make some sense. Both teams are in dire need of added offensive firepower this season . . .”
Are the Brewers really in dire need of firepower? They were third in home runs this year, and fourth in the second half. They were fifth in ISO on the year and fourth in the second half. They were ninth in SLG on the year and eighth in the second half. I don’t follow the team, but from looking at stats, it seems like they need some guys who hit for average more than they need guys who hit for power. The team was in the 21st rank in BA on the year and 22nd in the second half.
The Rangers comment was equally as puzzling. That’s a 68 win team that has young OF type pieces (Thompson, Duran) that need ABs, a $35m SS whose defense is such that the team could benefit from him seeing time at DH, and a young 3B with a long injury history that could use some time at DH. Signing an elderly as a DH makes no sense. That said, look for the Rangers to give him a 2 year deal.
Cruz looks like someone who lost the “it” factor. A designated hitter with an OPS of .651 isn’t gonna cut it.
It’s pretty ridiculous. He’s 43. He was terrible. Like, what more do you need? Does he need to wave a flag that says, “I’m done, age has caught up finally”? Folks suggesting that this team or that team give him a shot are seriously deluded. No GM that signs him can offer any excuses when the signing doesn’t work out, it’s in neon lights: Cruz is done.
If he was born in 80, he is 42.
Does a difference in a few months make a difference to the point being made?
What kind of eye surgery is he getting?
Oh man! To Oakland please! Great new new lease on life – all that sunshine for another season of Nelly at the dish.
Who wouldn’t want the only active player with AARP?