If all else fails, could Seattle bring an old friend home?
If all else fails, could Seattle bring an old friend home?
Seattle needs to add impact and length to their lineup before Opening Day. We know they have their eyes on a few fits in the trade market, but could an old friend still fill a need?
We know the Mariners want to add impact to this lineup but have been relatively hesitant to do so in free agency. They have also been against adding a designated hitter type, instead preferring to use the position as a rotation to give players days off.
It is difficult to believe Seattle would consider adding a player that offers nothing defensively, but the right deal could certainly come along. Nelson Cruz is still available in free agency, and it is reported that he has several offers on the table for 2023.
He probably isn’t a fit in Seattle, but with the history, he has with the Mariners it is worth the discussion.
Cruz will undoubtedly accept a one-year deal, especially considering his age and his performance in 2022. This is probably exactly the type of contract that Seattle would do in free agency, a short-term deal with a possibility for a bounce-back season.
The 42 year old will turn 43 years old on July 1, which means he could certainly be declining. His numbers completely cratered last season, but there are still some reasons to be optimistic.
First off, Cruz is coming off a season in which he had eye surgery. His left eye was a problem for him last season, causing him to struggle to pick up the spin on pitches.
Even with the eye issues, Cruz still hits the ball extremely hard. He ranked in the 84th percentile of average exit velocity and the 93rd percentile of max exit velocity according to Baseball Savant. He also continued to hit fastballs at a rate that was comparable to the rest of his career, leading me to believe his bat speed has not dropped to concerning levels.
His WRC+ was just 85 last season, almost a 40-point drop from the previous season. Much of this has to do with the fact that Cruz lost almost all power last season.
The Dominican native posted a career-low launch angle of 7 last season, a concerning number to say the least. He still hit the ball as hard as in past seasons but struggled to get it in the air nearly as often.
If Seattle believes Cruz can still be an offensive performer, he could be a good replacement for Carlos Santana. Unless Cruz can play first base, I find it hard to believe the Mariners are a team that is interested here. They are very set on not having a full-time designated hitter, but playing Cruz four times per week could be a solution.
Nelson Cruz is an all-time Mariner, so I would never want to count out a return. He still believes he can play, and I tend to agree that he is much better than he showed last season. He is a great clubhouse fit and can be a dangerous right-handed bat if he ends up in the right situation.
This may be the last time I get to write about the Mariners potentially acquiring Cruz, so I had to take full advantage of it. Nelson Cruz forever.