Nelson Cruz wants to stay in Minnesota long-term
Nelson Cruz wants to keep playing in Minnesota.
Nelson Cruz has shown no signs of slowing down at the age of 40. The veteran Minnesota Twins slugger has 16 home runs during this shortened 2020 season and has a 1.040 OPS as well.
He is a rare player still getting serious money on new contracts at his age and was originally set to make $12 million this year before the prorated pay. That $12 million came via a team option and Cruz is set to hit free agency following the season. He has made it clear he would love to stay in Minnesota.
Nelson Cruz: "I would like to stay in Minnesota Twins for several more years. There is a lot of talent here. I want to be part of the history of this team. I feel very happy in this organization. There is a great atmosphere. I'm sure great things will come to this city." https://t.co/3lQFnWYzGs
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) September 18, 2020
Nelson Cruz wants several more years in Minnesota
Cruz has made six All-Star Games in his career and five of those appearances came after turning 30. He even posted a 4.4 WAR in 2019 with the Twins, good for the fourth-highest total of his career.
The veteran is also leading the Twins in most offensive categories this season and is the only eligible batter hitting over .300. His .406 on-base percentage is not even close to being touched either.
There is a certain risk of giving a multi-year deal to someone Cruz’s age. However, he has clearly gone against trends and has not seen a significant drop in power or in average alone. This is not a player who has shown normal decline.
Another deal worth $10-12 million annually would not break the bank for the Twins either. Such a move could backfire, but Cruz is worth the risk given his role in this lineup.
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The Twins have not won a single playoff game since 2004 and the team last won a World Series in 1991. Winning it all this year may be the only way the team decides to move on from Cruz without any consideration. But if they fall short, getting Cruz back for two more years keeps the team competitive in an improved American League.