Is it Time to Move on From Nelson Cruz?

[BD57]

I have no problem with keeping him.

 

IMO, the declining production at the end of the season is as much attributable to the rest of the lineup stinking out loud as anything else.  Whether it's pitchers giving him nothing to hit, or him trying to carry the team because no one else is hitting (and swinging at pitches he's ordinarily take), the fact of the matter is, NO ONE was hitting at the end of the year.

 

The lack of offense is an issue.  There are a lot of other guys - Kepler, Garver, Sano, to name a few - who have more to answer for on that front than Cruz.

 

And then there's Donaldson & Buxton - neither one of them are of any use to us if they can't stay on the field.   

 

I'll entertain the notion that Donaldson had "bad luck" . . . mostly because he's "new to us," not because his missing time is "new."

 

With Buck, though ... we're past "bad luck."  This has happened too many times.  Why he's "brittle," I don't know, but he is.  I know that the moment we trade him, he'll never miss a day the rest of his career . . . but it's maddening to spend so much time talking about "What we could be with a healthy Buxton." 

[Shaitan]

 

DH & Hitting Coach?

One of those jobs pays better than the other.

[Dennesey55347]

Cruz earned another contract for every possible reason available. Let him make the choice. He is also the only player on this team opposing pitchers respect and fear for the most part. Every player we brought up in the wave a few years ago has flaws that crop up every year, and none of them can put it together offensively for long stretches. The 40-year old is our best employee. Keep.

[Doctor Gast]

Bring him back on a contract based on incentives. If he stays healthy & productive everyone is happy if not we`d have ourselves covered

[Trov]

I can see an argument to let him go, but I feel better reasons to keep him on.  As addressed cost should be low overall and Twins can take the hit.  If he goes belly up and drops off a cliff, he retires, or we cut him and move on.  You out some money but you need to be wiling to cut him loose no matter the contract if he falls off the cliff.  I do not think he will, but you never know.

 

I am not overly worried about his decline in overall numbers this year because as the year moved on it became clear he and buck was our only run producers that you could count on.  He had little to no protection behind him and I think he may have been pressing some.  Last year, 2019, he had HR behind him every game no matter where he hit so pitching to him was more needed.  This year, he was getting so many sliders just off the plate, some for strikes and he was not willing to make them pitch to him because he needed to drive in runs because whoever was behind him was not doing it.  Maybe I am wrong with that theory, but sounds good to me. 

[howeda7]

Your premise about the payroll continuing to rise is false. At least for 2021. They will likely have to cut it, at least some. Doogie on KSTP was speculating they would go from $140 million to $100 million. Even if they only cut it to $120 million, it's tough to keep him. Then factor in the decline that is laid out, the fact that Donaldson may need to DH some and it's hard to justify keeping him if he costs $12-15 million. If it's $5 million, then obviously you keep him.

[insagt1]

Bring him back for at least next year. If he starts to fade badly, I think the guy has enough integity to know when ts time to step aside. Mentioned many times...he was the only run producer in that 2 game mess with Houston.

 

Incidentally not to get sidetracked but have we noticed that the old 'you can't win playoff games with HR's hasn't applied much this year. Several teams are blasting them out with great regularity. Our guys however, not only stopped hitting the long ball, they stopped making contact altogether. A sorry sight I'm still unhappy about.

 

As for Donaldson/Buxton alternating as DH's...if Buxton can't play CF, we lose a ton of his value to the team. 2021 I believe is his last chance with the Twins. If we play a full season and he only gets in under 100 games, its time to cut bait.

 

If Cruz wants back, we should welcome him with open arms. He is good playing and he is great with the players. I also think 2021 is Sano's last shot as well...if he isn't gone by then...which I think is a good possibility.

[ashbury]

If Nelson doesn't return then find a DH who can play in the field some times giving more flexibility for line ups.

We already have a ton of corner talent on the roster or knocking on the door. A DH candidate probably won't play up the middle, so we'd be adding to the glut.

 

Whatever premium you're paying a guy for his glove is wasted, on the days he's at DH. It's much more effective *and* salary-efficient to roster a full-time DH, if he is indeed a DH-caliber hitter. Signing Cruz was a great move.

 

Like most, I'm leery of committing much in a second year of a new contract, so that could be a reason to move on. Or if the team has reason to expect a dropoff in production from Cruz, that would remove the reason to keep him. But replacing a bat of Cruz's value is hard. I go back and forth but right now I'm inclined to try hard to retain him.

 

[Battle ur tail off]

NO!

 

Dump your best hitter? Why so we can replace him with someone CHEAP that doesn't produce as well?

 

If you sign him for 2 years and he produces 1 and is used as a platoon or pinch hitter in the other, I am fine with that. 

 

This post reads like a classic Twins apologist take. Do what makes the team better, not what is cheap. Saving money doesn't give the team any more wins.

 

[Twins33]

I’m on the fence. I’m leaning towards keep but I’m not all the way there. I really like him and loved the signing. In September and in the playoffs I remember some meatballs he would normally crush, being missed. Not sure if it was because of his knee, a decline in the bat or just a random slump. I guess that’s what they’ll have to weigh. 

[mikelink45]

I can only support one year.  As a really old guy I can tell you that one year can really make a difference and arthritis and joint problems accumulate and get worse.