SAN DIEGO – On Tuesday morning, Nelson Cruz’s time with the Padres came to a conclusion that was not very memorable. It is not apparent whether or not his incredible 19-year career in the big leagues may be coming to the same conclusion.
After a flurry of roster transactions on Tuesday, Cruz was designated for assignment by the Padres, although it is currently unknown whether or not he will be traded. The right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha has shoulder irritation, therefore the Padres have also placed him on the 15-day disabled list. Utility player Matthew Batten has been promoted to replace Cruz’s spot on the Padres’ bench.
The Padres have four possible choices at the Trade Deadline
Cruz has played in 49 games thus far this season, almost exclusively as a designated hitter and pinch-hitter against left-handed pitchers, and he had compiled a slash line of.245/.283/.399 in those games. The team’s general manager, Bob Melvin, stated that the trade was made due to the need for further variety on the roster.
Melvin acknowledged that it was a really challenging question. “He has a significant influence on the locker room. It’s amazing to play against him from a distance because of the respect that he brings to the table across the board and around the league. He exhibits all of the qualities that were advertised for him, including leadership.
“I believe that adaptability is going to be increasingly important here going forward. Both he and [Matt Carpenter] are players who primarily serve as designated hitters for our team. We wanted to be able to give certain people some more days off, we needed a runner off the bench, and we needed to have a bit more variety in our roster. Therefore, I’m sorry to say that we have no choice but to make this change today.
Cruz has played in the major leagues for 19 seasons and has compiled career totals of 464 home runs, an OPS of.856, and 42.3 bWAR. He has been named to the All-Star game seven times, has won the Silver Slugger award four times, and led Texas to the AL Championship Series MVP award in 2011.
Melvin stated that he was certain Cruz will “catch on somewhere else.” On Tuesday, Cruz was unable to be found at the ballpark, and it was not immediately obvious whether he would seek an opportunity of this nature. His skill set is still at least somewhat valuable; he is a right-handed bench hitter who has a knack for getting hits against left-handed pitchers and can occasionally knock the ball out of the park. (In 143 at-bats thus far this season, he’d already hit five home runs.)
During the winter, San Diego signed Cruz to a one-year agreement with the intention of platooning him with Carpenter at the designated hitter position. The fact that the Padres weren’t getting enough productivity out of that pair to justify two position-less roster spaces was what ultimately led to the trade that took place on Tuesday.
Concerning Wacha, the Padres are anticipating that they will be able to give his shoulder additional time to recover thanks to the All-Star break. A similar problem prevented him from getting a start the previous month. Melvin has stated that there is a possibility that he may return to the rotation in the first turn following the break.
In addition, the Padres recalled left-handed pitcher José Castillo and right-handed knuckleballer Matt Waldron while optioning right-handed pitcher Domingo Tapia.
FAQ’s
Q1. Did Nelson Cruz play for the Rangers?
Cruz has played 19 seasons for eight organizations, including the Rangers and the Twins. He has a.274 batting average, 1,088 runs batted in, 462 home runs, and 2,039 total bases. He has four Silver Sluggers and one Most Valuable Player award from the League Championship Series.
Q2. How did the Padres get Nelson Cruz?
The San Diego Padres dispatched scouts to the Dominican Republic during the winter to check on Cruz’s progress following surgery, and they signed him to a one-year, $1 million deal in January. Cruz reportedly signed with the Padres at a discounted rate.
