The San Diego Padres and Nelson Cruz are reportedly in settlement on a 1-year deal.

Veteran slugger Nelson Cruz and the San Diego Padres are in settlement on a one-year, $1 million contract, sources inform ESPN. Cruz, 42, is coming into his nineteenth season and will get ample DH at-bats. He’ll additionally function GM of the Dominican Republic workforce within the World Baseball Traditional.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 11, 2023

San Diego was beforehand rumored to have an interest within the veteran designated hitter, however nothing was official. This reported deal supplies the Padres with a right-handed slugger who can DH or come off the bench in a pinch-hitting function.

Nelson Cruz may find yourself platooning with Matt Carpenter, who not too long ago inked a deal in San Diego as properly. Carpenter is a left-handed hitter who will primarily face right-handed pitching. In the meantime, Cruz’s skill to hit left-handed pitching from the right-side bodes properly for the Padres. Cruz might even see a while within the outfield. However the 42-year outdated is greatest fitted to a DH function at this level in his profession.

He endured a down season with the Washington Nationals throughout the 2022 marketing campaign. Cruz in the end slashed simply .234/.313/.337 with a .651 OPS and 10 dwelling runs in 124 video games. Nevertheless, this can be a participant who is just one yr faraway from clubbing 32 dwelling runs between the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays. Cruz was an All-Star in 2021 as properly. Maybe taking part in for a contender in San Diego will assist Nelson Cruz bounce again.

The Padres want to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the Nationwide League West division title. LA cruised to a division win final yr. San Diego did upset the Dodgers within the 2022 MLB playoffs, nevertheless. Following the Padres’ profitable low season that has seen them signal star Xander Bogaerts and different key depth items, they’re able to make one other playoff run.

The San Diego Padres are +120 to win the NL West in keeping with MLB betting websites. Including an influence bat like Nelson Cruz bodes properly for his or her probabilities to win the division.