Article: BREAKING: Nelson Cruz Agrees To Deal With Twins

[DocBauer]

THUD!

 

Saw this scroll across the screen at work and just about jumped out of my seat! I even kinda expected it, but wasn't sure I could believe it.

 

We get 2 yrs or 1. Our choice. We add a dangerous hitter who could/should have a positive impact on the players around him.

 

While there are scenarios where the Twins also keep Austin and Cron, it doesn't make much sense. Somehow, one of them is gone.

 

We still need at least one high quality one arm. Possibly a second.

 

While I like Adrianza, I prefer him as a "second" guy off the bench. There are some legitimate guys on the market who can play all over and bring a bat better than Adrianza.

 

Love this signing! Great late Christmas gift! Just, please, let's not stop now!

[Danchat]

A couple of notes from MLB Trade Rumors:
 

 

Prior to this morning’s agreement with the Twins, slugger Nelson Cruz received “competitive” offers from both the Rays and Astros, according to Juan Toribio of The Athletic and Fancred’s Jon Heyman. Specifics aren’t known, but it seems likely that the Twins would’ve had to outbid either by a fairly notable margin, given that the Rays won 90 games last season while the Astros won the 2017 World Series and appeared in a second consecutive American League Championship Series this past season.

 

It's good to see the Twins spending some of that cash on a very good bat, though I'm not sure about how Cron and Austin will fit. I'd rather have Austin be the primary 1B and Cruz the main DH... but it's a good problem to have.

[akmanak]

I am going to play devil's advocate. We picked up an aging player who can only play DH. We picked up a 2nd basemen who not only couldn't hit last year but he couldnt field either, and we picked up an average first baseman.

 

Now I am hearing from people on this board that we could won 100 games or more? From what? 3 players ? Buxton is a bust get passed that, Sano is very close to being a bust since he cant layoff the outside ball, and that leaves Mauer....oops gone. This team has rental player to appease the fans so they by tickets until July .

 

They haven't addressed our horrid in field with two key losses by picking up Cron and Schoop. Am I happy they actually did something? Sure, do I think it will help this team win the division? Absolutely not unless they pick up some pitching.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

I am going to play devil's advocate. We picked up an aging player who can only play DH. We picked up a 2nd basemen who not only couldn't hit last year but he couldnt field either, and we picked up an average first baseman.

Now I am hearing from people on this board that we could won 100 games or more? From what? 3 players ? Buxton is a bust get passed that, Sano is very close to being a bust since he cant layoff the outside ball, and that leaves Mauer....oops gone. This team has rental player to appease the fans so they by tickets until July .

They haven't addressed our horrid in field with two key losses by picking up Cron and Schoop. Am I happy they actually did something? Sure, do I think it will help this team win the division? Absolutely not unless they pick up some pitching.

They need a ton of help in the pen. Britton, Herrera and Brach signings would change my outlook on 2019. Also, go out and trade for a better than what we have SP. We have our vaunted deep minor league system. Part of the strategy of having one is to use some of them for trades. Or sign Keuchel. We don't win with last seasons pitching staff imo.

[Strato Guy]

While Cruz will make the lineup better, the Twins are still very thin in the infield. Sano had a terrible year last year and is injury prone. Polanco missed half a year last year and looks to be miscast as a SS. Schoop was benched late last year because of a lack of production. These 3 players are well below average as a group defensively. What is the Twins Plan B? I have a feeling they will need one unless they address this issue. Adding a full time DH takes away the possibility of Sano being the DH because he is needed at 3B because there are not options, unless they think highly enough of Astudillo to be an adequate infielder.

[ashbury]

If anything, we don’t have to face his bat this season. He seemed to hit Twins pitching pretty well.

Oh, I suppose a .300 BA with a SLG above .600 is considered good in some circles.

 

A bat-only guy for DH needs to be an elite hitter. He isn't young but I think he can still be one. This is what you demand positional flexibility from other roster spots for - the license to try for a stud at DH.

[7r4de me]

Meh. Payroll commitments have been systematically cleared for signings like this? Greater minds than mine, but I don’t see the logic. Haven’t seen the corresponding roster move yet but hopefully granite is gone. We have OFs that can play D and his 8 singles per season won’t be missed

[Mr. Brooks]

1) This board cracks me up! All year we’ve had people criticizing management for building for the future with young guys; they sign Cruz and now they’re overspending on a proven veteran! There is no question that this strengthens the lineup; a lineup that inarguably under-achieved last year. 2) The Tyler Austin/CJ Cron decision doesn’t bother me at all - with the depth in the minor leagues, I could see either one being a one-year (or partial year) hole-filler. 3) I would argue that starting pitching is not a priority: could it be improved? Yes, but what team’s rotation couldn’t? I’d say Falvine should be aware for opportunities, but shouldn’t go overboard. 4) Finally, if I were in charge of spending the Pohlad’s money, I’d go after David Robertson for the bullpen, and ping the Marlins on JT Realmuto now that the catching market seems to be settling down.

I'm not sure where you are getting #1 from. The board seems overwhelmingly in favor of this move. Like, 80% minimum.

[Riverbrian]

 

1) This board cracks me up! All year we’ve had people criticizing management for building for the future with young guys; they sign Cruz and now they’re overspending on a proven veteran! There is no question that this strengthens the lineup; a lineup that inarguably under-achieved last year. 2) The Tyler Austin/CJ Cron decision doesn’t bother me at all - with the depth in the minor leagues, I could see either one being a one-year (or partial year) hole-filler. 3) I would argue that starting pitching is not a priority: could it be improved? Yes, but what team’s rotation couldn’t? I’d say Falvine should be aware for opportunities, but shouldn’t go overboard. 4) Finally, if I were in charge of spending the Pohlad’s money, I’d go after David Robertson for the bullpen, and ping the Marlins on JT Realmuto now that the catching market seems to be settling down.

 

These type of assumptions appear frequently enough on TD that I feel a need to correct it each time. 

 

I can't think of a single discussion on TD that didn't have two sides.

 

Creating a combined voice on any topic is impossible. Placing that combined voice on one side of topic and then claiming contradiction on the other side of a topic with another falsly created combined voice is pointless because... in the end... you'd have to ignore the opposition just to make it happen.    

 

Alright... Carry on All.  

[DrNeau]

 

Well, you can. It involves a 12-man pitching staff and a four-man bench (C, IF, OF, 1B). The problem is you then have three righties for 1B/DH.

Of course, if Austin can play some OF, he could certainly get starts against lefties in place of Kepler or Rosario.

 

 

I know, right?

 

Austin in RF would be sweet. Let Austin, Cave and Kepler battle it out for 2 spots. 

 

[Vanimal46]

I am going to play devil's advocate. We picked up an aging player who can only play DH. We picked up a 2nd basemen who not only couldn't hit last year but he couldnt field either, and we picked up an average first baseman.

 

Now I am hearing from people on this board that we could won 100 games or more? From what? 3 players ? Buxton is a bust get passed that, Sano is very close to being a bust since he cant layoff the outside ball, and that leaves Mauer....oops gone. This team has rental player to appease the fans so they by tickets until July .

 

They haven't addressed our horrid in field with two key losses by picking up Cron and Schoop. Am I happy they actually did something? Sure, do I think it will help this team win the division? Absolutely not unless they pick up some pitching.

I read through this thread and no one typed this team will win 100 games or more. Can you point us in the right direction?

[Danchat]

We picked up a 2nd basemen who not only couldn't hit last year but he couldnt field either, and we picked up an average first baseman.

 

Schoop was an above average fielding 2B according to Fangraphs, so I have no idea what you mean by "he couldn't field". Maybe you were referring to Dozier, because that'd be more accurate.

 

I don't really see the downside of this move. If the Twins stink in 2019, then they can trade Cruz for some prospects. If he just so happens to stink, well, move on because you don't owe him a cent in 2020. The Twins are adding a few pieces to compete now while also thinking about the future - I don't see what's wrong about that approach. 

[jmlease1]

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-twins-have-cornered-the-dh-market/

 

I agree with pretty much everything in this article. The only real downside to this move is probably needing to deal Tyler Austin or lose him. Sorry, that's just not much of downside to adding such a dangerous bat.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I read through this thread and no one typed this team will win 100 games or more. Can you point us in the right direction?

Here:

 

The Twins are going to win 100 games. Cruz, Sano, Cron and Schoop all hit 30+ home runs, Buxton hits 10 triples and Kepler hits 40 doubles. (Oh, and Berrios, Gibson and Pineda all get Cy Young votes.)

 

You heard it here first!

[Riverbrian]

Nelson is a great name for a Minnesotan! 

 

 

[Shaitan]

 

3.  Signing a 37 year old designated hitter means that the limited defensive flexibility of this team has just gotten more limited.  Where does Cron play?  Sano?  Austin?  Rooker?  Garver?  (I am not even going to address adding another right handed hitter to the mix).

Easy.

 

Cron? 1b

Sano? 3b

Austin? bench or aaa if he clears waivers

Rooker? aa

Garver? bench

[DrNeau]

Can’t lose Austin.

[Doctor Wu]

Well, I'm obviously in the minority but I'm not that joyous about this deal. Not sure what to make of the fact that signing a 38-year old DH-only player --- and  one that already has a PED suspension in his career --- for "only" 14 million dollars is construed as a bargain. Hey, I hope I'm proved wrong, but I have my doubts that Cruz will be making an all-star team this coming season. Then again, I like the comparison someone made to the Thome signing a few years ago. Let's hope Cruz is remotely as productive.

[Doctor Wu]

Back to the original article, it was noted that the Twins 40-man roster was already full. This signing will put it at  41. So who is the odd man out?

[wabene]

I'm happy with this he not only improves the lineup but those around him will benefit from his batter box clout! The 40 man won't produce stress for me... Lets see. I guess I'd go with Granite.

There is nothing about this deal that could be improved. While I completely agree with limiting the length of FA deals it is making me start to wonder if the whiz kids are against long deals altogether. We might know soon as decisions are looming

[Number3]

What I like is what they have NOT done as much as what they have done. They have not come anywhere near these supposed superstar free agents who demand multi $10mil long term contracts. To me, what they have done is make very reasonable moves to improve the Twins for 2019 and not claim to be shooting for the moon in some future year. No one is totally happy with their pitching and, for some reason, I think the Twins' pitching staff will be ok.

[TheLeviathan]

Btw.... Once again we see money is more important than going to a more certain playoff team....

Yup, FA plays by one rule: Pay the man.

 

Time to do the same for a few more men. Preferably men who pitch.

[woolywoolhouse]

I'll ask the obvious question everyone is wondering: does Mitch Garver give up #23 for Cruz?

[RedBull34]

"Specifics aren’t known, but it seems likely that the Twins would’ve had to outbid either by a fairly notable margin"

A couple of notes from MLB Trade Rumors:
 

 

It's good to see the Twins spending some of that cash on a very good bat, though I'm not sure about how Cron and Austin will fit. I'd rather have Austin be the primary 1B and Cruz the main DH... but it's a good problem to have.

This line really annoyed me.  It's a conjecture.  It's seems just as likely that he was simply going to accept the highest offer, or accept based on other factors.  

 

Not every player plays for rings.  Some play for proximity for geographical preference (Reed).  Some for $$$.  Some for other reasons.  And yes, some play for rings.

 

There is no indication what motivates Cruz, and I wouldn't judge him based on that decision.  

[RedBull34]

 

I'll ask the obvious question everyone is wondering: does Mitch Garver give up #23 for Cruz?

That's interesting because his previous number before that was #17, which is worn by Berrios .  Before that #8 with the Brew Crew but that is open.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I agree with pretty much everything in this article. The only real downside to this move is probably needing to deal Tyler Austin or lose him. Sorry, that's just not much of downside to adding such a dangerous bat.

 

I won't cry too much over losing Austin, though I do think he's got a ML future. I'd prefer we go with 12 pitchers and 4 hitters on the bench any given day. That's just me. I think if Baldelli can manage our pitchers a bit better than Molitor, we won't need 13 pitchers. 

 

The downside is that whole flexibility thing (though we should always have a decent hitter on the bench in a key spot)... 1B/DH and pretty much locked up by 3 guys. Now the flip side is you can give Gordon a look if a MI gets hurt, and I suspect he will get off to his usual hot start and have us clamoring to call him up in May... There doesn't really appear to be much in the way of a fall back plan for Sano. I have no idea what type of arm Austin or Cron have, but it would be nice if one of them had a decent enough arm where they could shift to 3B if Sano ends up on the DL. We don't have any depth there in the high minors... might not be a bad place to put a 4A type guy in Rochester. Those guys do occasionally catch fire and turn into pleasant surprises.

[SomeGuy]

 

still 74 homers is what 68 net increase? Huge

Are all 3 players replacing just Mauer?  Or are they replacing Dozier, Escobar and Mauer (37 2018 homeruns)?  More like 30 HR increase.  Nice pickups though.

[Shaitan]

Austin was worth a half-year of Lance Lynn's worst. I don't think other teams are champing at the bit for his skill set. He's shown promise, but I view him as expendable. 

 

I am curious about the 40-man move they'll make. Granite makes sense to me. While Granite's skills serve a role on a 40 man roster, he's also coming off a terrible season. Now is the time to try to drop him if they're going to.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Are all 3 players replacing just Mauer? Or are they replacing Dozier, Escobar and Mauer (37 2018 homeruns)? More like 30 HR increase. Nice pickups though.

Mauer, Dozier and Morrison/Grossman. Escobar didn’t really DH, Escobar played mostly 3rd, Sano should eclipse anything Escobar did offensively. Edited December 28, 2018 by Sconnie

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Mauer, Dozier and Morrison/Grossman. Escobar didn’t really DH, Escobar played mostly 3rd, Sano should eclipse anything Escobar did offensively.

 

To be technical, Forsythe as well, especially since he effectively replaced Dozier... but yeah, the FO added some pop to the lineup. If Sano and Buxton turn things around, look out. Any improvement on Kepler, Rosario, and Polanco would be icing on the cake.