Nelson Cruz
In ten years as a Major League Baseball player, outfielder Nelson Cruz has seen his share of highs and lows. Cruz spent his last eight years playing baseball for the Texas Rangers. During his tenure with the Rangers, Cruz helped the club win consecutive American League Pennants in 2010 and 2011. Cruz also had six straight seasons in which he hit at least 20 home runs and he was a two-time AL All-Star. On the downside Cruz will always be remembered for misplaying a ball in the 2011 World Series. The Rangers were one out away from winning their first World Series Championship in franchise history. And in the bottom of the ninth Cruz misplayed a ball that was hit by St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese. Freese’s hit would clear the bases as the Cardinals tied the game before winning it in extra innings. The Cardinals would would go on to win the World Series Title the following night. Cruz entered last season as a potential free agent that was looking for a big year in order for a huge payday over the winter. But that all changed last August when Cruz was suspended by MLB for 50 games in connection with the “Biogenesis Scandal”. Cruz would finish 2013 with 27 home runs and 76 runs batted in, but these numbers seemed skewed after being linked to the clinic. Over the winter several Major League Baseball teams expressed interest in Cruz, but only with a one-year deal in mind. In late February, Cruz and the Baltimore Orioles would come to an agreement on a one-year deal worth $8 million which appears to be a bargain now. Cruz is currently tied for the MLB lead in home runs (26) while his second in runs batted in (68) as he is helping the O’s remain in contention in the American League East. Cruz is on pace to become only the third Orioles player to hit 50 home runs in a season. During his time with the Rangers, Cruz was a part of a potent lineup and the same can be said this season in Baltimore. This year the Orioles are second in the AL in home runs (105), third in slugging percentage (.423), first in hits (775), and fifth in runs batted in (356). After Orioles first baseman Chris Davis set a single-season franchise record by hitting 53 home runs last year he was once again expected to put Baltimore’s lineup on his back. But Davis has struggled a bit this year as he on pace to hit under 30 home runs and Cruz has picked up the slack. Cruz began the season by hitting a home in the first game of the year against the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Cruz would hit 6 homers in April before bursting onto the scene with 13 long balls and 27 runs batted in the month of May. Cruz’s hot start has him in the running to become the first Orioles player to be named as American League MVP since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991. Cruz just turned 34-years of age on July 1 and he will surely seek a long-term contract in the off-season, but it will be interesting to see how teams will approach him in regards to a lengthy deal. Cruz will have some leverage due to the big season that he is in the midst of having. It will definitely help Cruz’s case if he can help the Orioles make the postseason while also taking home the hardware as being named as the AL’s MVP. Potential suitors will look at the fact that Cruz is 34 and he was previously suspended by Major League Baseball for performance-enhancing drugs. Like any other free agent, the more teams that will get involved in the potential pursuit of Cruz will definitely drive up his value. But in the meantime Cruz and the Orioles are basking in the glory of what could be a historic season. Source: Baseball-reference.com
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