*Photo from Twins Daily*
It took a little longer than expected, but the Minnesota Twins finally got their man. The Twins have re-signed DH Nelson Cruz to a one year contract worth $13 million, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Both sides had expressed interest in a reunion immediately after the season ended, so it was surprising it took this long to get a deal done, but a deal has been completed. The Twins have confirmed the deal.
Cruz had a fantastic season with the Twins in 2020, posting a .303 average with a .992 OPS, mashing 16 homers and driving in 33 runs in 53 games played in the 60 game regular season. In his long 16 season major league career, Cruz is a .278 hitter with an .876 OPS, hitting 417 homers and driving in 1,152 runs in 1,742 games played in his 16 seasons. Cruz has spent time with the Twins, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, and Seattle Mariners.
Ever since signing with the Twins prior to the 2019 season, Cruz has become one of their best hitters in a career resurgence, becoming one of the prominent faces in the bomba squad lineup of 2019, the year the Twins set records for home runs in a season. Cruz was also not shy about saying that he liked his situation with a contending team in Minnesota, so the choice to come back was easy for Cruz.
Not only did Cruz's career blossom while he was with the Twins, he helped young slugger Miguel Sano's career take off as well, as Sano posted fantastic numbers in the 2019 season, earning himself a contract extension from the Twins. Cruz also earned the 2020 Muhammad Ali sports humanitarian award, and the 2020 Marvin Miller man of the year award for his charitable actions and efforts in his home country, the Dominican Republic.
The Twins have picked up their spending pace in the last month, bringing in Cruz, JA Happ, and Andrelton Simmons, along with Hansel Robles earlier in the winter.
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