The 41-year old slugger Nelson Cruz has signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals that includes a mutual option for a second year, according to ESPN’s Enrique Rojas. Rojas details Cruz will be guaranteed $15 million.
Cruz will make $12 million for the 2022 season and receive a $3 million buyout if the Nats don’t exercise the option for the 2023 season. The Dodgers, Padres, Brewers, and Braves were also interested.
This is a signing that wasn’t possible before last week. The league’s new collective bargaining agreement spawned an universal designated hitter, bringing the DH permanently to the National League.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo stated earlier Sunday that the club prefers a veteran at designated hitter. He landed a great option.
Cruz hit 32 home runs with 86 RBIs last season between the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .265/.334/.497 and drew 51 walks, earning his seventh All-Star game nod. He has hit 449 home runs in his 17-year career.
Cruz entered the majors in 2005 with the Milwaukee Brewers. It was his lone season in the National League, as he has played the last 16 seasons in the American League primarily as the DH between Texas, Seattle, Baltimore, Minnesota and Tampa Bay.
Last season, Rizzo swung big signing Kyle Schwarber, who was coming off a down year with the Chicago Cubs in 2020. Schwarber paid off with a historic clip of 25 home runs in 72 games with the Nationals before a hamstring injury sidelined him.
After following out of playoff contention, the Nationals traded Schwarber at the end of July to Boston.
Rizzo is once again taking a huge swing hoping to hit another homer with the ageless Cruz. Cruz averaged 39 home runs the past seven full MLB seasons since 2014.
His big bat is will likely slot alongside and protect the club’s 23-year old cornerstone Juan Soto and the emerging Josh Bell. Soto is one of today’s best pure hitters and a walk magnet.
Last season Soto and Bell combined for 56 home runs and 210 walks, including Soto’s MLB-leading 145. With all cylinders firing, together they can be a formidable trio in the middle of the Nationals’ lineup.
Additionally, Cruz provides much-needed veteran leadership in the clubhouse for a young group of hitters.
The Nationals as a team have low expectations in a stacked NL East. There’s the World Series champion Atlanta Braves, big pocket New York Mets and Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies. Still at the very least the Nationals offense will be fun to watch as a traveling home run derby.
