MINNEAPOLIS: It took until February, but the twins finally got their husband back. Nelson Cruz is heading back to Minnesota on a $ 13 million one-year contract, awaiting a physical contract, sources told MLB.com Tuesday night. It took longer than many expected to make the deal considering both parties
MINNEAPOLIS: It took until February, but the twins finally got their husband back.
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It’s a meeting that made sense for both parties. Cruz was the twins ’best hitter in the last two seasons and provided a steady power and average from the heart of the lineup, with a prominent role in the 2019“ Bomb Squad ”that set the season record for the MLB home runs. Cruz also said he liked his situation in Minnesota, where he was part of a disputed list and felt comfortable with the organization and the club.
Although he was over 40 years old, Cruz showed no signs of slowing down on the plate and in fact has increased his performance on many levels.
Cruz originally signed with the Twins before the 2019 season and posted two of the best seasons of his career, leading the club in homers and OPS in both campaigns, as the Twins were proclaimed consecutive Central American League championships. . His OPS + marks of 168 and 169 in the last two seasons were the highs of his career (except for the 2008 season, when he played only 31 games) and received national recognition with the Silver Slugger Awards both seasons and a pair of top 10 ranked in AL MVP Award Voting.
For two seasons in Minnesota, Cruz hit .308 / .394 / .626 with 57 homers in 173 games. After receiving $ 14 million in 2019, it was not a difficult decision for the twins to exercise their $ 12 million club option for the ’20s and get it back at a similar price in ’21.
It’s even more important to have Cruz in the twins ’club as a leading figure for many of the young players on the international roster, especially for fellow Dominican slugger Miguel Sanó, who had the best season of his career on the 19th under Cruz’s wing and obtained an extension of the contract as a result.
The stability and voice that Cruz brings to the club could be even more vital this season, when the Twins could call up several of their top prospects for a meaningful role in what they hope to be a playoff-linked team for the third year in a row. of the growing competition from the White Sox.
Cruz also coincided with the twins ’emphasis on community service with their dedication to charitable efforts in the Dominican Republic, for which he won the Muhammad Ali 2020 Humanitarian Sports Award and the Marvin Miller 2020 Men of the Year Award. .
Still, it wasn’t a meeting that took place quickly, especially given the uncertainty over whether the designated hitter would return to the National League for the 2021 season, which would have expanded the team market in search of Cruz services. This is a situation that seemed to get clearer on Monday, when the league announced that the MLB Players Association had rejected a proposal for the 21 that would have included both a delayed start to the season and universal DH, among other plans. The deal with Cruz came shortly after, Tuesday night.
Cruz’s return should mainly complete the Twins’ offense, which also added shortstop Andrelton Simmons on a one-year contract last week, pushing Jorge Polanco to second base and Luis Arraez to the starting lineup. ‘vacant utility. Minnesota also added right-hander Hansel Robles and left-hander JA Happ this offseason and could be in the market for additional pitching help to complete their offseason.
The 2021 twins are finally taking shape, with their most productive batter finally back in the fight.
Do-Hyoung Park covers the MLB.com twins. Follow him on Twitter at @dohyoungpark ia Instagram a dohyoung.park.