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Slugger Nelson Cruz, Twins agree to one-year deal
Free-agent slugger Nelson Cruz has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins for $14.3 million, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
The deal also features a $12 million team option for 2020, according to the source. Yahoo Sports first reported that the two sides had agreed to a deal.
No player has hit more home runs over the past five seasons than Cruz, with 203, which is 15 more than Giancarlo Stanton. Cruz, 38, who is older than new Twins manager Rocco Baldelli (37), has averaged almost 153 games a year over that same period.
Cruz, who made $14.725 million in the final year of his four-year, $64 million contract that he signed in 2015, ranked eighth in the American League last season with 37 home runs and ninth with 97 RBIs, despite missing some time after falling down the dugout steps and injuring his ankle on the opening weekend. He finished the season with a .256 average in 144 games.
This was his third time on the free-agent market.
In 14 major league seasons, Cruz, a former outfielder, has 360 home runs, 1,011 RBIs, 838 runs and a .274 batting average. In addition to the Mariners, he has played for the Baltimore Orioles (2014), Texas Rangers (2006-13) and Milwaukee Brewers (2005).
The deal also features a $12 million team option for 2020, according to the source. Yahoo Sports first reported that the two sides had agreed to a deal.
No player has hit more home runs over the past five seasons than Cruz, with 203, which is 15 more than Giancarlo Stanton. Cruz, 38, who is older than new Twins manager Rocco Baldelli (37), has averaged almost 153 games a year over that same period.
Cruz, who made $14.725 million in the final year of his four-year, $64 million contract that he signed in 2015, ranked eighth in the American League last season with 37 home runs and ninth with 97 RBIs, despite missing some time after falling down the dugout steps and injuring his ankle on the opening weekend. He finished the season with a .256 average in 144 games.
This was his third time on the free-agent market.
In 14 major league seasons, Cruz, a former outfielder, has 360 home runs, 1,011 RBIs, 838 runs and a .274 batting average. In addition to the Mariners, he has played for the Baltimore Orioles (2014), Texas Rangers (2006-13) and Milwaukee Brewers (2005).