Those fucking Rays!!!
According to Jeff Passan, the Twins are sending All-Star slugger Nelson Cruz off to Tampa Bay…
BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing a deal to acquire slugger Nelson Cruz from the Minnesota Twins, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 22, 2021
There had been rumours that the Blue Jays were kicking tires on Cruz, which was a little puzzling given the team’s crowded outfield situation and need to rotate guys through the designated hitter spot. That said, Toronto actually hasn’t been getting very good production from the DH lately, so there was some logic behind adding another elite bat to the lineup, and Cruz would arguably be the team’s best bat other than Vladdy
Cruz has kicked the piss out of the baseball this season. Through 85 games, he’s slashing a .294/.370/.537 line with 19 homers, 12 doubles, and a 35-to-63 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His 140 wRC+ ranks 20th in baseball, ahead of names like Jose Altuve and Mookie Betts.
I know he wasn’t the most ideal fit out there, but seeing the Rays get better really sucks!