3 teams that should sign Nelson Cruz once the lockout ends
By Tim Boyle
Nelson Cruz free agent destination: San Diego Padres
While the Brewers were able to make the postseason last year on the backs of their pitches, the San Diego Padres were left wondering where it all went wrong. They had one of the best offseasons (on paper) last winter. Injuries and poor performances resulted in them missing the postseason entirely. If this happens again, more heads will roll.
The DH spot is one the Padres don’t have much certainty at. A top-heavy team with some amazing talent at several positions and bad contracts they’d like to move at others, the answer to their DH question could be solved by signing Cruz.
Jurickson Profar might be the top candidate to take on the role in 2022 which shouldn’t have too many Padres fans eager for the lockout to end. This is a starting lineup that dramatically falls off the cliff once you get near the bottom. Even closer to the middle, they have questions with Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers.
Again, Cruz can change their lineup, too. His veteran bat with immense power could help completely turn the franchise back in the right direction where it was aimed at the start of last season.
The Padres have a starting rotation they can rely on to, hopefully, bounce back this year. What they don’t presently possess is a Boomstick like Cruz.