With draft pick compensation attached to him, it has been tough for Nelson Cruz to find a new home this offseason as the free agent outfielder remains on the market. While the Seattle Mariners have expressed interest in signing him, it seems unlikely they'll pull the trigger on a deal due to the uncertainty over what it would cost the club--which has already spent a lot this offseason.
According to NBC Sports, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik admitted that he'd love to bring Cruz aboard, but he admitted the price tag attached to him and losing a draft pick may hold him back from trying to sign him.
"I've had a lot of discussions with Adam Katz, his agent," Zduriencik told NBC Sports at the Mariners fan fest event. "There's an economic factor tied to that, as well as losing your draft pick. Would I like to have him here? Absolutely. I'd love to have Nelson Cruz in this lineup. But how much do you have to pay him, how many years is it going to be and are you willing to lose another draft pick? Those are the things you have to factor."
The Mariners have spent a lot of money this offseason, most notably reeling in second baseman Robinson Cano from the New York Yankees by inking him to a 10-year $240 million deal, and in signing him the team gave up its second-round pick to the Bronx Bombers.
If the Mariners do decide to land Cruz, they'll be giving up their third-round pick, which is less than what many other teams would have to give up to sign him. According to MLB.com, the Baltimore Orioles have also expressed interest in signing the slugger but it remains to be seen if they'll be able to court him.
MLB.com reports that Cruz may end up back with Texas on a one-year deal for 2014 as Spring Training looms in a couple of weeks.
Cruz missed 50 games last season due to his connection to the now-defunct Florida-based Biogenesis clinic and his tie to performance enhancing drugs, but that's likely not the reason teams haven't pursued him since shortstop Jhonny Peralta was also linked to the clinic and served a suspension but was able to land a four-year $53 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals early on out of free agency.
Cruz appeared in 109 games last year, and hit .266 with 27 homers and 76 RBIs. It remains to be seen where he will end up in 2014.
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