Nelson Cruz

[mrtwinsfan]

Signed  one year one Million  with The Padres,  i really thought after last year Nellie might hang it up,  For 7 months in San Diego and that terrible 70 degree heat and a Million bucks, who can not like that,    Good for Cruz  , hell of a team nice to see !!!!

[bap3141]

1 hour ago, mrtwinsfan said:

Signed  one year one Million  with The Padres,  i really thought after last year Nellie might hang it up,  For 7 months in San Diego and that terrible 70 degree heat and a Million bucks, who can not like that,    Good for Cruz  , hell of a team nice to see !!!!

I'd love to see the man in the Hall of Fame. Probably won't get there because of the roids back in his Rangers days, but the dude etched a place on my ballot (I don't have one) after 2019 alone. 

 

[Doc Munson]

He might not have actually been a good fit for teh Twins, but I was REALLY hoping we would have resigned him. woudl love to have him back on this team.  :(  but happy he is still playing!!

[bap3141]

1 hour ago, Doc Munson said:

He might not have actually been a good fit for teh Twins, but I was REALLY hoping we would have resigned him. woudl love to have him back on this team.  :(  but happy he is still playing!!

I agree.  I just imagine him in this clubhouse and it seems kike he'd fit very well.  

[Brad.dahlen]

Good for Cruz. Those naps might be outside in the San Diego sun now. 

 

We need to know when to call it quits on a good thing. Cruz on this team eating up DH at-bats from Buxton, Correa, Arraez ect would be the last thing they need. Would be surprised if the Twins reached out at all. 

[Karbo]

Maybe he could replace Rocco?

[CRF]

Unfortunately, I think he's just about done, and I didn't want him back here now, but LOVED him when he played for us. Great guy in the clubhouse. He'd make a good coach, if he decides on that direction. 

[Craig Arko]

Apparently he had eye surgery to maybe correct a problem he developed after the trade. Would love to see him join the coaching staff sometime.

[Doctor Gast]

Cruz had some down stats after he left the Twins so automatically he's washed up? Here is good example of throwing those stupid stats out the window.

The guy had problems with his eyes, give him a break, Now he's got them fixed, so he's ready to go. Cruz thrives here, so why didn't they bring him back? Cruz knows his body, if he's staying around because he can still contribute. 

Everybody knows what he had brought to the club, he still can. We desperately need someone who can hit lefties and he can hit righties as well. He's a great fit & I miss him. If he can't go the full season, fine we have Arraez & others to fill in. I agree with Argo that Cruz would make a great coach, he could double as one as he plays & after. We missed a great low risk opportunity

[Craig Arko]

17 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Cruz had some down stats after he left the Twins so automatically he's washed up? Here is good example of throwing those stupid stats out the window.

The guy had problems with his eyes, give him a break, Now he's got them fixed, so he's ready to go. Cruz thrives here, so why didn't they bring him back? Cruz knows his body, if he's staying around because he can still contribute. 

Everybody knows what he had brought to the club, he still can. We desperately need someone who can hit lefties and he can hit righties as well. He's a great fit & I miss him. If he can't go the full season, fine we have Arraez & others to fill in. I agree with Argo that Cruz would make a great coach, he could double as one as he plays & after. We missed a great low risk opportunity

Just a minor note; I am not, in fact, the ship aboard which Jason pursued the Golden Fleece. :)

[August J Gloop]

I hope that in May when SD gives him his release, the Twins send a jet to bring him in as Director of Longevity and Readiness. He could have additional duties as assistant bench coach and jr assistant hitting coach. 

[Nine of twelve]

2 hours ago, Craig Arko said:

Apparently he had eye surgery to maybe correct a problem he developed after the trade. Would love to see him join the coaching staff sometime.

I hadn't been aware of this. From the little bit of information I found on the internet is appears to me that he had a pterygium removed. This is almost always an uncomplicated procedure and I hope it's successful for him.

While I'm commenting I'll say that I would love to have the 2019 Nelson Cruz on my team. The 2023 Nelson Cruz? Not in my plans. I'm a bit surprised that the Padres signed him but I think it's probably more of a depth signing than anything.

[Doctor Gast]

35 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

Just a minor note; I am not, in fact, the ship aboard which Jason pursued the Golden Fleece. :)

My bad Craig. I should have been more attentive ?

[MABB1959]

4 hours ago, Brad.dahlen said:

Good for Cruz. Those naps might be outside in the San Diego sun now. 

 

We need to know when to call it quits on a good thing. Cruz on this team eating up DH at-bats from Buxton, Correa, Arraez ect would be the last thing they need. Would be surprised if the Twins reached out at all. 

Buxton is 100% not a DH.   Arraez maybe but I would love to have Cruz as a DH.  He is as good as any other player on this team, but many players did much better with Cruz on the team.  

[Brad.dahlen]

5 minutes ago, MABB1959 said:

Buxton is 100% not a DH.   Arraez maybe but I would love to have Cruz as a DH.  He is as good as any other player on this team, but many players did much better with Cruz on the team.  

Buxton was the DH 34 times last year, only 4 less than Arraez. Whether they should or not, this leadership is going to put Buxton at DH a fair amount. 30-40 more times in 2023 and perhaps more. 

 

Cruz simply does not have a spot on this team, unless they would have attempted to sign him.

[Brad.dahlen]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Cruz had some down stats after he left the Twins so automatically he's washed up? Here is good example of throwing those stupid stats out the window.

The guy had problems with his eyes, give him a break, Now he's got them fixed, so he's ready to go. Cruz thrives here, so why didn't they bring him back? Cruz knows his body, if he's staying around because he can still contribute. 

Everybody knows what he had brought to the club, he still can. We desperately need someone who can hit lefties and he can hit righties as well. He's a great fit & I miss him. If he can't go the full season, fine we have Arraez & others to fill in. I agree with Argo that Cruz would make a great coach, he could double as one as he plays & after. We missed a great low risk opportunity

Nelson is 42 and had 10 HRs last year. If you expect him to rebound in his age 43 season, I was anticipate being disappointed. 

[Doctor Gast]

13 minutes ago, Brad.dahlen said:

Nelson is 42 and had 10 HRs last year. If you expect him to rebound in his age 43 season, I was anticipate being disappointed. 

You don't know Nelson. I can't guarantee what he'll do under SD management. But with MN, I'd bet that he'd pay off that $1MM investment many times over.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Nine of twelve said:

I hadn't been aware of this. From the little bit of information I found on the internet is appears to me that he had a pterygium removed. This is almost always an uncomplicated procedure and I hope it's successful for him.

While I'm commenting I'll say that I would love to have the 2019 Nelson Cruz on my team. The 2023 Nelson Cruz? Not in my plans. I'm a bit surprised that the Padres signed him but I think it's probably more of a depth signing than anything.

I'd say its a lets see if we catch lightning  in a bottle signing.  Why not?  Only $1 mil which in MLB is couch cushion  money.

[Brad.dahlen]

52 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

You don't know Nelson. I can't guarantee what he'll do under SD management. But with MN, I'd bet that he'd pay off that $1MM investment many times over.

While I disagree, I can definitely see where your coming from! Maybe SD will make a trade that results in Cruz getting released and we have a need. 

 

Go Twins!

[MABB1959]

21 hours ago, Brad.dahlen said:

Buxton was the DH 34 times last year, only 4 less than Arraez. Whether they should or not, this leadership is going to put Buxton at DH a fair amount. 30-40 more times in 2023 and perhaps more. 

 

Cruz simply does not have a spot on this team, unless they would have attempted to sign him.

34 times out of 92 games (37%) played?  His batting average and number of HR's' is not great IMO not DH quality.  Plus getting 1 - 2 rest days has to come to an end NOW.

[Trov]

22 hours ago, Brad.dahlen said:

Nelson is 42 and had 10 HRs last year. If you expect him to rebound in his age 43 season, I was anticipate being disappointed. 

Well that may depend on how his eye surgery went.  He claims after the Twins traded him he started having some eye issues, that he is hoping surgery this off-season will fix.  Will he be an MVP, of course not, but he will DH and be asked to hit some HR's.  Could he have finally hit the age cliff, maybe, but for 1 mil that is not a bad risk to take.  He is also known to be good leader for younger guys, something some of their guys could maybe use. 

[Brad.dahlen]

1 hour ago, MABB1959 said:

34 times out of 92 games (37%) played?  His batting average and number of HR's' is not great IMO not DH quality.  Plus getting 1 - 2 rest days has to come to an end NOW.

Until he makes it through a full season somewhat healthy, the rest days are going to stick around. I agree that it is unfortunate. But he has more value 4 days a week than he does 0 days a week. 

 

I am willing to bet he is the DH more than 40 times this upcoming season. He would have been last season, if he had not sat out or if Gary Sanchez did not go on the hot streak he did. Also, would be surprised if anyone on the team goes much above 50 games at DH (unless they sign a full-time DH.) Arraez, Correa, Gallo, Buxton will get the bulk of it (30-40 games) and Polanco, Larnach, Kiriloff, ect will get the leftovers. 

 

It's not necessarily how I would handle it, but I believe it is the reality. 

[Brad.dahlen]

1 hour ago, Trov said:

Well that may depend on how his eye surgery went.  He claims after the Twins traded him he started having some eye issues, that he is hoping surgery this off-season will fix.  Will he be an MVP, of course not, but he will DH and be asked to hit some HR's.  Could he have finally hit the age cliff, maybe, but for 1 mil that is not a bad risk to take.  He is also known to be good leader for younger guys, something some of their guys could maybe use. 

He is a great leader, but his time has come and gone for the Twins I feel. A front office can not seriously plan for a 43 year old to have any sort of rebound campaign. It's not financially or logistically the right move for this current team. Correa has taken any sort of leadership role they would hope to get from Cruz.