Padres signing veteran slugger Nelson Cruz to a one-year deal to add power to the lineup. He spent last year with the Nationals.
The Padres have added another veteran hitter they believe can infuse their offense with power.
The team and Nelson Cruz, a 42-year-old designated hitter who will be playing his 19th season in the major leagues, have agreed to a one-year contract. The right-handed hitting Cruz fills out the Padres’ designated hitter platoon, as he will presumably combine with left-handed hitter Matt Carpenter, the 37-year-old who signed a one-year contract last month.Cruz underwent surgery in October to alleviate what he characterized as swelling in his left eye. He said at the end of last season that his vision had been impaired since mid-2021, which coincides with a slide in his performance.
Cruz, a seven-time All-Star, has 459 career homers. He hit at least 32 home runs every full season from 2014 through ’21 and had at least an .823 OPS all but one season from 2008 through ’21. He hit .294 with a .907 OPS in 85 games for the Twins in 2021 but just .226 with a .725 OPS in 55 games after being traded to the Rays. Last season, he batted .234 with a .651 OPS for the Nationals.
Cruz is serving as general manager of the Dominican Republic team in this spring’s World Baseball Classic. He will also play for the Dominican in his fourth WBC. Manny Machado and Juan Soto are also playing for the Dominican.
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