190/.266/.301 last year, while their right fielders hit a pedestrian .255/.308/.413. Though the move to Seattle’s Safeco Field would appear to be a detriment to his right-handed pop, both ESPN Park Factors and Baseball Prospectus Park Factors indicated that in 2014, Orioles Park at Camden Yards was actually less homer-friendly for right-handed bats than Safeco Field. He figures to see time in both right field and at DH with Seattle - two areas in which Seattle needed additional offense. 269/.331/.518 in that time, so the Mariners are likely to have a significant offensive upgrade on their hands. While many will forever connect Cruz to PEDs as a result of that infraction, he was tested extensively in 2013 and in 2014 without suspension, and he batted. Cruz admitted to making a mistake and taking a banned substance in 2012 after a bout with a bacterial infection called helicobacter pylori caused him to lose nearly 40 pounds in the 2011-12 offseason. He played a career-high 159 games in 2012 (a figure he matched in 2014) and was healthy in 2013 before a 50-game suspension cut his season short after he was connected to the Biogenesis PED scandal. Cruz has a history of hamstring and quadriceps injuries in both legs, and he hit the DL for such maladies five times between 2010-11. Of course, he’s also had difficulty staying on the field in that stretch. 232 isolated power mark and has averaged 37 homers per 162 games since 2009. Though he’s never approached the 40 homers he hit in 2014 previously, Cruz boasts a lifetime. 271/.333/.525 batting line. He ranked alongside Victor Martinez and Melky Cabrera as the best bats on the market this offseason, and he arguably provides the Mariners with the best power upgrade money could buy on the free agent market. Cruz is represented by agent Diego Bentz of Relativity Sports.Ĭruz, 34, led the Majors in home runs this past season (40) while putting together an excellent. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick hears that the deal is still pending a physical ( Twitter link). According to Pujols, it’s a four-year, $57MM contract.

The qualifying offer price is set for the winter.5:00pm: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets that Cruz will earn $14MM per season plus his $1MM signing bonus, making it a four-year, $57MM deal.ĭECEMBER 4, 11:09am: The deal is official, with the team announcing the signing today.ĭECEMBER 1: The Mariners have agreed to a multi-year deal with Nelson Cruz, reports Dominican journalist Yancen Pujols (Spanish link).

Speaking of Soler, an Atlanta woman filed a lawsuit against the outfielder for injuries she suffered during the 2021 World Series after he threw a ball into the stands.

He is not yet a free agent as he is still arbitration eligible, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team opts not to tender him a contract.

The Nationals declined their team option on outfielder Victor Robles.

As expected, Marlins outfielder Jorge Soler exercised the opt-out clause in his contract and is officially a free agent.

The A’s agreed to a one-year pact with left-hander Sean Newcomb.

The Brewers re-signed right-hander Colin Rea to a one-year deal.

The power hitter already had a team option for 2024 that the Dodgers were expected to exercise, but now he will stick around in LA for the next two seasons at minimum.

The Dodgers extended infield slugger Max Muncy on a two-year deal.

On Adam Jones’ podcast, Nelson Cruz announced his intention to retire from baseball after the Dominican Winter League season concludes.

qfiNz9GV2F- Seattle Mariners November 2, 2023

Cal Raleigh, and have been named 2023 Silver Slugger Finalists!

Mariners cruz