Why Cruz and the Padres are a perfect match
This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it recurrently in your inbox.
Nelson Cruz has unfinished business. The Padres have unfinished business. Maybe that is why the 2 are such an apparent match.
Cruz’s one-year take care of the Padres grew to become official on Monday after he handed his bodily in his native Dominican Republic. A day later, Cruz spoke with reporters through Zoom and gushed concerning the state of affairs in San Diego.
In brief, for a 19-year massive leaguer nonetheless looking for that elusive first World Series title, this was the proper match.
“That was the thing that I was looking for,” Cruz stated. “A chance to win the World Series. I got other offers that I think were, money-wise, better. But at the end of the day, before my career [is over], I want to win it.”
Of course, there’s much more to this deal than Cruz’s (and the Padres’) quest for a title. The Padres would not have signed Cruz in the event that they did not assume there was a spot for him to contribute.
Think again to October. The depth choices on the Padres’ postseason roster have been poor. Manager Bob Melvin — identified for his tactical acumen and shrewd in-game maneuverings — was left to trot out basically the identical beginning 9 on a nightly foundation. Then he virtually by no means dipped into his bench.
This transfer (and some others made by common supervisor A.J. Preller this winter) ought to go a good distance towards altering that.
“I’m here to take my at-bats,” Cruz stated. “But I’m open to any [role].”
Indeed, there is a legitimately strong match for Cruz on this roster — and at $1 million for one 12 months, he is a low-risk addition.
Cruz, in idea, may begin towards left-handed pitching and are available off the bench towards righties — sharing DH duties with fellow offseason signee Matt Carpenter. But Cruz may also get an opportunity to play his manner into extra at-bats, if he can revert to his 2021 type.
Cruz stated he had been coping with a difficulty in his left eye for a bit over a 12 months. He underwent October surgical procedure to handle it, and Cruz says he “can see the baseball better now, no doubt.”
Last 12 months, Cruz batted .234/.313/.337 with Washington, a far cry from his profession .859 OPS. And, no, it might be unfair to anticipate peak Nelson Cruz in his age-42 season. But throughout the 2021 marketing campaign, Cruz torched left-handed pitching to the tune of a .316/.375/.538 slash line. If the Padres get that sort of manufacturing out of Cruz, he’d be an immensely beneficial position participant.
On high of that, Cruz brings 18 years of huge league expertise — from Milwaukee to Texas to Baltimore to Seattle to Minnesota to Tampa Bay to Washington. He’s a veteran presence from the Dominican Republic on a staff with two of that nation’s brightest younger stars in Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. In reality, Cruz cited enjoying alongside that duo, plus Manny Machado, as one among his greatest motivators for signing in San Diego.
“I feel like I still have stuff to contribute to the game,” Cruz stated. “Definitely why I acquired signed was to go and hit. But I also can assist the younger guys undergo powerful conditions, even the veteran guys.
“I believe in this team, this organization. We’re at the point where we’re very close to getting everything together. I believe I can help to accomplish that goal.”
