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San Diego Padres reportedly interested in Nelson Cruz

By David Hill

Aug 13, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) waves to the crowd after hitting his 2000th career hit in the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 13, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) waves to the crowd after hitting his 2000th career hit in the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Diego Padres may not be done adding pieces to the end of their roster.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Padres are interested in Nelson Cruz. As Cruz recently said several teams were interested in his services, it is not a surprise that at least one of those teams has finally been identified.

San Diego Padres may be hoping Nelson Cruz has one more year left in the tank

After years of defying Father Time, it appeared as though age had finally caught up to Cruz last year. He produced a disappointing .234/.313/.337 batting line in his 507 plate appearances for the Nationals, hitting ten homers and 16 doubles. Considering that Cruz had belted 32 homers in his All Star showing in 2021, that sudden dropoff made it seem as though the end was near.

But there is reason to hope that Cruz may still have something left in the tank. He had been battling inflammation in his left eye throughout the 2022 season, undergoing surgery to fix the problem in October. It is possible that getting his vision fixed will allow him to remain productive.

Cruz will also be turning 43 years old during the season. A grand total of four players have hit at least 15 homers in their age 42 season, with Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds the only players in that group to hit more than 20 homers. Carlton Fisk is the only player in major league history to hit at least 15 homers after turning 43 years old. History is not on Cruz’s side.

The Padres would also seem to be an odd fit for Cruz based on their roster. Matt Carpenter signed a two year contract and is likely to be their primary designated hitter while occasionally getting work around the infield. As Cruz is limited to a DH role, he may not have much of an opportunity to make an impact. That could actually help Cruz be more productive as the Padres could put him in a better situation to succeed.

Next. 3 potential landing spots for Trevor Bauer. dark

The San Diego Padres are reportedly interested in Nelson Cruz. If his vision is back to normal, he may have one more season left in his bat.

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