By La Velle E. Neal III
Minneapolis Star Tribune
The Twins continued their quest for power during the offseason by agreeing to terms with veteran designated hitter Nelson Cruz on Thursday.
Cruz, 38, has 203 home runs over the past five seasons, more than any other player in Major League Baseball.
During that time, Cruz hit at least 40 homers in a season three times. When Brian Dozier hit 42 homers in 2016 it was the first time a Twins player reached 40 since Harmon Killebrew in 1970.
Cruz also had three 100-RBI seasons over the past five years. The last time the Twins had a player drive in that many runs was Josh Willingham with 110 in 2012.
And Cruz has a cool nickname — “Boomstick.” No current Twin can boast of such a moniker.
According to a major league source, Cruz will get a one-year contract worth $14.3 million with a club option for 2020 worth $12 million. The Twins’ policy is to wait until a player passes a physical before making deals official.
The Rays were among teams also interested in Cruz.
The Twins didn’t have designated hitter high on their list of priorities this offseason, but indicated they would welcome someone like Cruz for the right price. Cruz’s relationship with general manager Thad Levine, from their time with the Rangers, undoubtedly played a role in him coming to the Twin Cities.
On his Twitter and Instagram accounts, Cruz posted a message that read, in part: “I would like to thank the Mariners ownership especially (owner) John (Stanton) for all you have done for me and my hometown, the organization, the coaching staff … and most importantly the fans for all of your support over the last four seasons. Seattle, you hold a special place in my heart as you embraced me from the start even when skeptics said I would not succeed in a pitcher friendly park.”
With Cruz now in the fold, the Twins are expected to turn their attention to adding pitchers. They could use bullpen help — although they are expected to convert a starter or two into relievers in 2019 — and could add a starter in the right deal.
Cruz, a six-time All-Star, hit 37 home runs for Seattle last season after leading the American League with 119 RBI in 2017; he made the All-Star team both years. He is the third power bat added by the Twins during the offseason. First baseman C.J. Cron (30 home runs for Tampa Bay) was picked up off waivers and free agent second baseman Jonathan Schoop (32 for Baltimore in 2017) got a one-year, $7.5 million deal.
A native of the Dominican Republic who became an American citizen, Cruz has 360 career home runs. Before Seattle, Cruz was in Baltimore for one season (an American League-leading 40 home runs in 2014) and Texas for eight seasons, after breaking in with Milwaukee.
Although he had 97 RBI and hit .256 last season in 519 at bats, Cruz’s homer totals have gone down minimally each of the past four seasons, and his batting average has been on a steady decline, too. Cruz’s .256 last season was a drop from .288 the year before and .302 in 2015.
During 2013, his final season in Texas, Cruz was suspended for 50 games for using performance-enhancing drugs. He spent 2014 with the Orioles before getting a four-year, $57 million deal in Seattle.
Cruz did not test positive for PEDs, but was suspended by Major League Baseball because he got treatment from the Florida-based Biogenesis Clinic that was linked to PED use by major league players. When he signed with the Mariners, he said a news conference that, “It was something about my health that made me go in that direction. I lost 40 pounds during the offseason. I went to different doctors — they didn’t find what was going on with me, why I kept losing weight.
“And finally they found I had a parasite. And then spring training was close. That’s why I made the decision.”
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