Minnesota Twins: Should the Twins Pursue Nelson Cruz?
By Dylan Smith
Should the Minnesota Twins pursue Nelson Cruz? The 38-year-old slugger hasn’t shown signs of slowing down, could he be the Twins’ designated hitter in 2019?
On Monday, Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports reported that the Minnesota Twins are interested in acquiring the ageless right-handed slugger, Nelson Cruz. There seems to be a mutual interest between the two parties, should the Twins pursue Cruz?
For a team looking to add pieces, Nelson Cruz could be a valuable acquisition. The Twins have a spot for a slugger like Cruz as Joe Mauer‘s retirement and Logan Morrison‘s departure have opened up the Designated Hitter role on their roster. The Minnesota Twins already have C.J. Cron slated to be their starting first baseman, Nelson Cruz could join Cron and Eddie Rosario in forming a formidable lineup.
Unlike other premier sluggers, any offer extended to Cruz would be limited, due to his age. The Twins could capitalize on this, as it is reasonable to assume that Cruz could be enticed with a two-year offer.
It will come at a cost, but the Twins could add a premier slugger without a lengthy commitment. Minnesota doesn’t often attract premier sluggers, this could be a rare opportunity for the club. Cruz’s offensive ability could go a long way for a Twins team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2018 season.
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Cruz, a 38-year old slugger, hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
In 2018, the righty mashed 37 home runs, drove in 97 RBIs and slashed a healthy .256/.342/.509. Baring a sudden regression, it is easy to figure that Nelson Cruz will produce similar numbers in 2019.
This risk of regression is important and it will inevitably keep many clubs away from the slugger, but it is important to remember that there haven’t been any signs indicating that Cruz’s end is near.
Even though his batting average did fall a bit in 2018, his hit tool still seems to be clearly intact. In fact, Cruz only struck out 122 times in 2018, his lowest total since 2013.
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Some teams may value the Designated Hitter as a spot where you can rotate hitters to provide them with a “day off”, but it is hard to deny the intriguing possibility of signing Nelson Cruz. I would not be surprised if Cruz signs with the Minnesota Twins.