Baltimore Orioles: Nelson Cruz Signing, One Year Later

Mar 11, 2014; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz (23) runs off the field after the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

It will soon be a year since Nelson Cruz was signed by the Baltimore Orioles at the very end of the offseason a year ago. The months of October through November seem to be more stressful for the O’s fanbase than do the months when games are actually being played. The worry is always present that the Orioles are not doing enough to put together a legitimate contending team, or that the players being secured are insufficient in some way.

I find it interesting to look back at reactions to moves at the time. After the results are known, it is interesting to see how writers and commenters either hit it on the head or were completely wrong.

As I review writings on those days last year, I am surprised to see that it was more positively received than the way my memory recalls it. I would estimate that the positives about the signing outnumbered the negatives about two to one. There was a sense of euphoria that the Orioles were finally doing something active, having also recently acquired Suk-Min Yoon and Ubaldo Jimenez.

The most common theme went something like this: “I don’t like us signing a PED player and I’d rather have Kendrys Morales, but hopefully that is an issue of the past for Cruz. He has potential to hit really well, and even if he doesn’t it is only for one year and the price of $8 million is not that bad.”

Before I bring in some humorous statements of naysayers and skeptics, I’ll be fair to look back and review what I had to say about it.

My title that day was, “Nelson Cruz Signs with Baltimore Orioles – Who Moved My Cheese?” … the latter part of that being a take-off on the bestselling of that title which talked about dealing with life change. And indeed, it was quite a change from the quiet offseason, causing me to also say: “So, who moved my Orioles? Is there a new owner in Baltimore? Yoon … Jimenez … Cruz … are you kidding? Would you have believed this 10 days ago?”

My overall view of the situation was not markedly different than the general view of most folks who took a sort of “hopefully this works out” type of posture. Whereas many people thought this was the death of Delmon Young, I always believed he would do what he did indeed accomplish for the O’s, if given the chance. On the other hand, I was all wrong on Steve Pearce – believing him to be, even a year ago, nothing more than a serviceable utility player.

Overall I was quite positive about getting Cruz, being sure he would fit fine in the clubhouse … which we know was a great success. I also believed he would be a definitive upgrade over the previous bevy of designated hitters, not that they combined for any sort of impressive numbers. In fact, I included a chart on this day, remarking how in only 109 games in 2013 Cruz had substantially more production than the combined DHs of the Orioles in 152 games.

Now for some fun … laughing at some negative comments by Orioles fans about getting Cruz and believing it was a disastrous move.

One person said, “Took some time to let the Cruz deal sink in and… Yup. Still hate it. Still feel it fills no particular need. Still feel it was a waste of a draft pick. Still annoyed we did absolutely nothing to improve the team’s OBP this offseason.”

Another wrote, “Giving up a pick for four years of a solid, 30-year-old starting pitcher is just fine; giving up a pick for one year of an oft-injured 33-year-old DH is dumb.”

Can’t you just feel the love for the Orioles from this one? … “No steroid cheater should be on the O’s. It’s a sad day in Baltimore. Sorry, everyone. I loved the Ubaldo signing and was all for Santana or Morales. But, this guy is a steroid cheater. The O’s should want nothing to do with him. I hope he strikes out all the time and gets cut.”

You probably don’t want to hire this guy as a scout … “I personally expect him to fall off a cliff (he only posted an OPS of .808 over the last 3 years while he was cheating after all and he’ll be 34 this year). I guess the silver lining I can take from all of this is that we only got suckered into a one year deal for him.

Here is a guy who had a crystal ball … “We trade a second round pick for a possible first round pick after he rejects our qualifying offer this offseason? After he has most likely had a monster year trying to re-establish himself for next offseason, and you think that is a bad move? Especially if he stays clean this year?

More from Baltimore Orioles

With a similar outlook, a writer said … “He’s coming to a hitters’ park in Camden Yards, and he gets to play many of his road games in a division that features only one pitchers’ park (TB). I think 30+ homers is reasonable to expect. If Cruz has a monster year and mashes 40 HR, the O’s will make the QO, he’ll turn it down, and then we’ll all be happy.”

All of that happened, except the “all be happy” part. But making everyone happy is just about impossible to do, especially in an Orioles offseason.

Next: Orioles Predicted Again to Finish Last

Home/Baltimore Orioles