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Nelson Cruz has unfinished business. The Padres have unfinished business. Maybe that’s why the two are such an obvious fit.
Cruz’s one-year deal with the Padres became official on Monday after he passed his physical in his native Dominican Republic. A day later, Cruz spoke with reporters via Zoom and gushed about the situation in San Diego.
In short, for a 19-year big leaguer still in search of that elusive first World Series title, this was the perfect fit.
“That was the thing that I was looking for,” Cruz said. “A chance to win the World Series. I got other offers that I think were, money-wise, better. But at the end of the day, before my career [is over], I want to win it.”
Of course, there’s a lot more to this deal than Cruz’s (and the Padres’) quest for a title. The Padres wouldn’t have signed Cruz if they didn’t think there was a place for him to contribute.
Think back to October. The depth options on the Padres’ postseason roster were poor. Manager Bob Melvin — known for his tactical acumen and shrewd in-game maneuverings — was left to trot out essentially the same starting nine on a nightly basis. Then he almost never dipped into his bench.
This move (and a few others made by general manager A.J. Preller this winter) should go a long way toward changing that.
“I’m here to take my at-bats,” Cruz said. “But I’m open to any [role].”
Indeed, there’s a legitimately solid fit for Cruz on this roster — and at $1 million for one year, he’s a low-risk addition.
Cruz, in theory, could start against left-handed pitching and come off the bench against righties — sharing DH duties with fellow offseason signee Matt Carpenter. But Cruz might also get a chance to play his way into more at-bats, if he can revert to his 2021 form.
Cruz said he had been dealing with an issue in his left eye for a little over a year. He underwent October surgery to address it, and Cruz says he “can see the baseball better now, no doubt.”
Last year, Cruz batted .234/.313/.337 with Washington, a far cry from his career .859 OPS. And, no, it would be unfair to expect peak Nelson Cruz in his age-42 season. But during the 2021 campaign, Cruz torched left-handed pitching to the tune of a .316/.375/.538 slash line. If the Padres get that kind of production out of Cruz, he’d be an immensely valuable role player. …
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