Nelson Cruz Rumors: Baltimore Orioles Have ‘No Excuse’ Not To Re-Sign Cruz
By Hayden Kane
Nelson Cruz hits free agency this winter coming off an outstanding 2014 season. He will have a number of suitors across the MLB landscape, but the Baltimore Orioles should still be near the top of the list.
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Last off-season, teams stayed away from Nelson Cruz. Part of that had to do with the qualifying offer that had been extended to him by the Texas Rangers and therefore the draft pick compensation for signing him. Part of that had to do with the lingering stink of his PED suspension in 2013. That combination of factors seriously limited the market for a guy who pounds the ball from the right side of the plate.
The Baltimore Orioles signed Cruz to a low-risk, one-year deal. To say they were rewarded would be an understatement. Cruz raked, putting together one of the best offensive seasons in the American League for the division-winning Orioles. In 159 games, Cruz batted .271/.333/.525 with 40 home runs and 108 runs batted in.
That puts Cruz in line for a big payday this winter, but as Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes, that should not prevent the Orioles from bringing Cruz back. As a matter of fact, Cafardo believes that they have “no excuse” not to re-sign Cruz:
"The Orioles’ commitment to winning will be tested by Cruz’s free agency. If they can’t compete for a guy who was arguably their MVP, you have to be critical of ownership, which did step up to get J.J. Hardy’s deal done in the middle of the playoffs. Attendance is up, TV money is coming in. No excuses."
Based on their results the past few seasons and particularly in 2014, the Orioles have to believe they are close. Cruz was a big part of their success in 2014 and he is a perfect fit for the middle of their lineup. With the money to do so, this is likely a move they need to make.
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