Re-Signing Nelson Cruz Should Be Baltimore Orioles’ Top Offseason Priority
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Even as they began to compete in the AL, there always seemed to be something missing in the Baltimore Orioles‘ lineup. However, in 2014, they finally figured everything out, and a lot of that had to do with MLB‘s leading home run hitter, Nelson Cruz. The Orioles signed him to a low-risk one-year deal and it really paid off for them.
Cruz hit 40 homers while driving in 108 runs, which gave him one of the more productive offensive seasons in all of baseball last year. Even though he’s now 34 years old, he’s more than worth bringing back on a three-year deal. That would solidify one of baseball’s most powerful lineups. The Orioles, due in large part to Cruz, led the major leagues in home runs last season. If they lose him, that will not be true next season.
That isn’t to say you need to have a lot of power in order to win games in the major leagues. Just look at the Kansas City Royals, who were last in the AL in home runs and came within a couple hits of a World Series title. However, Cruz provides more than just power for the Orioles; he’s the glue that holds their lineup together.
With talented hitters up and down the lineup such as Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Matt Wieters, Cruz is the fixture in the middle of the order. He protects the guys hitting behind him in the order and since they have such a deep lineup, he usually has good protection in front of him in the order as well.
Clearly, the Orioles and Cruz had a good thing going last season. Neither one should forget that and they should forge a long-term partnership that will work for both sides.
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