Washington Nationals sign Nelson Cruz to one year deal

The universal designated hitter is already making its presence felt in the National League. With that rule change, the Washington Nationals gained an avenue to add the type of player they needed in the lineup.

That player turned out to be Nelson Cruz. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Nationals have signed the veteran slugger to a one year deal, giving Josh Bell and Juan Soto some protection in the lineup.

Washington Nationals dramatically improve lineup with Nelson Cruz

It would seem strange to be banking on someone who is on the wrong side of 40 to be a key part of the lineup. Cruz turns 41 on July 1, and it is rare for players to continue to perform at a high level at that age.

But Cruz is not the typical 40-something slugger. He has seemingly gotten better with age, with six All Star appearances since turning 32 years old. That included last season, as he produced a combined .265/.334/.497 batting line in his 584 plate appearances between the Rays and Twins, hitting 32 doubles and 21 doubles.

Even with that strong performance, there is some reason for concern. Cruz struggled when he went to Tampa Bay, producing a .226/.283/.442 batting line in his 238 plate appearances. While the power was still there with 13 homers and eight doubles, his strikeout rate spiked as his walk rate plummeted. It is fair to wonder if the years were beginning to catch up to Cruz or if it was a matter of being in unfamiliar surroundings.

The Nationals need that to be the case. They are looking to convince Juan Soto to sign a long term extension, but he needs to see that they are committed to building a winning team first. Cruz alone may not be enough to pull the Nationals into contention in 2022, but he will certainly improve a lineup that lacked punch last season.

The Washington Nationals have signed Nelson Cruz to a one year deal. He immediately improves their lineup and gives them a needed power bat.