A Reunion with Nelson Cruz Still Makes Sense

NOPE.  He was great.  I love watching Cruz.  But, he will decline and we already can't afford pitching, Buxton, a S.S., why spend money that will be wasted on a ready to decline D.H.  We can put Sano there and watch him decline for what we already have sunk into him.  

If you rade-off a bunch of guys on the roster...maybe.

You have Garver who can DH and play 1B...Jeffers/Rortvedt catching at least half the games next season.

You have Sano who should be a fulltime DH, because Kirilloff can play 1B, as can Garver.

You have Donaldson, who needs time off the third base bag, which is why Miranda may make the roster out of spring training. And, you need a place for Arraez if the Twins get anotehr shortstop, which may be a higher priority than a DH.

And you have to make a decision on Rooker, who could bring a big bat to the lineup if given just one more chance.

Of course, I would look at offers for Donaldson, Sano, Garver, Arraez...and even Rooker if anyone wants him, not to mention Kepler...which means the Twins COULD use a vet presence like Cruz on the bench. Plus Cruz NEEDS to play at least two more seasons and has the drive to run towards 500 home runs.

1. As discussed by others above, the Twins already have numerous DH options.

2. The Twins should not be spending significant amounts on one year contracts. This team will not be competitive next year. Letting the young guys get some at bats will provide more value to this team in the long run.

If the price was right I'd go for it. Name one young player, Rookers, Etc...that we can count on in 2022?

These isn't one who shows promise. 

What do we have to lose?? More baseball games?

Doesn't seem like putting limited discretionary money toward a relative strength is the most impactful way to invest.  With that being said - if we somehow turn his signing into another trade deadline acquisition like Ryan you might squint and see a win-win situation.

Cruz was the best player signed in the last 20 years.  If only to have a "all-star" caliber player on the team.   Berrios is gone and Buxton most likely gone.  No one left to root for that you would at least even have name recognition outside of the minor league fans.

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

not even one bit.

Sano, Donaldson, Rooker, Larnach, Garver all say hello. 

If they spend money to get better in the short term, it 100% should not be on a DH only. 

If they go after on batter, it better be a SS.

Amen!

1 hour ago, Melissa77 said:

If the price was right I'd go for it. Name one young player, Rookers, Etc...that we can count on in 2022?

These isn't one who shows promise. 

What do we have to lose?? More baseball games?

 

Yep, .200 hitters on a good day, just what the Twins do not need.

he hit low .200's after the trade is a telling sign for me.  Some will say change of scenery, living out of a suitcase as potential factors.  I say not so fast, when you get traded to a contender to make run for post season, his juices should have been flying high.  Liked him for what he was, but not for what he might be at a $10MM+ price tag.  Say hello to the national league for Cruz if DH gets implemented. 

A LOT of players do not do well after a not wanted trade; heck the Twins have gotten a lot of them.

I love Cruz and he was a great fit with the Twins, but I feel that ship has sailed.  There’s plenty of other DH options, and after the Pohlads give Buxton his contract (ahem..) every $12M is gonna matter.  

I love Nellie.
But we have no room for him unless many players are traded/dumped.

I love Cruz. However take the money which the Twins would have to pay to Cruz and add it to the previous offer to Buck...who, just like Cruz, is also a fan favorite and a leader in the clubhouse.

I just don't see it as a good fit any longer. I love Nellie Cruz and he was great while he was here, but they need to invest money in SS and starting pitching (and hopefully a new contract for Buxton), and they have hitters who could use time at DH (Donaldson, Arraez, Sano, Garver especially but even Rooker, Larnach, and Kirilloff could see time there). We're better off doing DH by committee at this point and putting the money elsewhere. $12M gets you another guy for the rotation. Or two experienced relievers. More importantly, another $12M allows you go go big on a guy like Marcus Stroman after he turns down the initial offer...

13 hours ago, Einheri said:

I love Nellie.
But we have no room for him unless many players are traded/dumped.

Who do we have that can hit like him?  I know there are position players and others who could "fill in" as a DH but we need a real one.  Maybe Sano but he seems to be fine for now in the field.  I would rather have Cruz any day!

Cruz would fall into the Want category instead of the Needs.  We have too many Needs to consider putting significant money at something we Want when we have in-house options that while not as great as Cruz, allow us to spend our dollars elsewhere.  He's a luxury. 

On 11/19/2021 at 8:23 AM, jmlease1 said:

I just don't see it as a good fit any longer. I love Nellie Cruz and he was great while he was here, but they need to invest money in SS and starting pitching (and hopefully a new contract for Buxton), and they have hitters who could use time at DH (Donaldson, Arraez, Sano, Garver especially but even Rooker, Larnach, and Kirilloff could see time there). We're better off doing DH by committee at this point and putting the money elsewhere. $12M gets you another guy for the rotation. Or two experienced relievers. More importantly, another $12M allows you go go big on a guy like Marcus Stroman after he turns down the initial offer...

You mean strike-outs by committee.