DRaysBay · Dec 27, 2018
Nelson Cruz chooses the Twins
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY SportsThe Tampa Bay Rays will not be signing free agent slugger Nelson Cruz.
The 38-year old Designated Hitter has chosen to spend the next year in the American League Central with the Minnesota Twins, who will have a second year option on his contract.
With the Rays payroll still $20 million shy of last year’s opening day amount, to see Nelson Cruz go to another team on a one-year deal is, to put it mildly, disappointing. Depressing, even.
The Rays had previously handed out the highest MLB contract in team history to Charlie Morton this off-season at $15 million per season. Cruz cost less than that.