MLB Rumors: Top 5 Landing Spots For Nelson Cruz

GM Billy Beane is more about small-ball rather than spending a lot on one power hitter, but Cruz would make a big impact on an A’s team that fell off offensively last season. The A’s averaged 4.9 runs per game in the first half and that dropped to 3.9 in the second half. The halfway point also marks when the A’s traded away Yoenis Cespedes, and the absence of that big bat was noticeable. Cruz would restore that big bat and lengthen the lineup.

This is another small market team, but the Pirates need to find someone to protect Andrew McCutchen in the middle of the lineup. Cruz would bat behind McCutchen and the Pirate center fielder would see more good pitches to hit with Cruz looming on-deck. The Pirates are already one of the best pitching teams in the National League, and adding Cruz to their offense would greatly improve their team.

The Reds finished 28th in runs scored and had a nightmare of a second half after a promising start. What looked like a third-straight season in the playoffs turned into a fourth-place finish in the NL Central. The team was missing Joey Votto for most of the year, and adding Cruz and a healthy Votto will turn the offense around. The Reds' leading RBI producer drove in 80 runs last year -- a number that Cruz will surpass as long as he's healthy.

After winning the World Series, the Sox went from best to worst last season when they finished last in the AL East. Boston traded for Cespedes from the A’s mid-season and his production sparked a Red Sox offense that was terrible for most of the year. Adding Cruz to a lineup that already includes David Ortiz and Cespedes would be downright scary for opposing pitchers. There’s no doubt Boston wants to make a splash in some way this offseason.

While every team would love Cruz’s services, it’s likely he will return to the O’s. Cruz has already expressed his desire to return and he has great relationships with many players on the team. The O’s hadn’t won a playoff series since 1997 until this year, and it seems Cruz wants to return to help Baltimore finish the job and take the next step. The O’s are definitely the front-runner to get him back for at least one more season.