Free-agent slugger Nelson Cruz and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract, major-league sources told The Athletic on Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
The player-general manager of the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team will reunite with Manny Machado and Juan Soto in San Diego, pending his physical.
Cruz, 42, spent last season with the Washington Nationals, hitting 10 home runs with 64 RBIs, and posting a .234 batting average across 124 games in 2022.
The seven-time All-Star is entering his 19th MLB season.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Why only $1 million?
The Padres have had interest in Cruz for multiple years but never lined up on a deal until now, coming off the slugger’s worst season in more than a decade. Cruz signed a one-year, $15 million contract last March, then proceeded to hit only .234 with 10 home runs for the Nationals. After undergoing offseason eye surgery to address inflammation, he was willing to take a sizable discount in order to pursue a World Series title while reuniting with former teammates Machado and Soto. — Lin
How does he fit?
Cruz will at least be the Padres’ primary designated hitter against left-handers. Matt Carpenter, who recently signed a two-year, $12 million deal, is likely to be the main DH against right-handers, and his ability to fill in at other positions could open up additional playing time for Cruz.
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Cruz is expected to be a positive influence for a young player such as Fernando Tatis Jr. The veteran newcomer overcame a PED suspension in 2013 to re-establish himself as a revered teammate and leader. Last offseason, Machado and Soto both lobbied for their respective clubs to sign Cruz. Now, all three will play together for both San Diego and the Dominican World Baseball Classic team, for which Cruz is serving as player-general manager. (As part of his current suspension, Tatis is ineligible to play in the WBC.) — Lin
Required reading
(Photo: Geoff Burke/ USA Today)