Mariners Rumors: Did Nelson Cruz Turn Down $75 Million?
By Todd Pheifer
Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
These days, the Seattle Mariners are part of many different free agency and trade rumors. The latest report is that Nelson Cruz, formerly of the Texas Rangers, may have turned down a five-year, $75 million contract offer from the Mariners.
Seriously?
Granted, this a rumor so the general public may never be able to verify the information.
If this rumor is true, it is difficult to know which aspect is worse. Is it worse news that the Mariners offered this contract at all, or that Cruz reportedly turned down a lucrative five-year deal?
Obviously we are in a strange new world after Robinson Cano was signed to a mammoth 10-year deal. However, Cruz is 33 years old, and an individual that is fresh off a 50-game suspension for PEDs. Really, Ms? $75 million?
There is the other side of this rumor. If Cruz really turned down the offer, it means that he either loathes the idea of playing in Safeco Field or he believes that he will get a even better offer from someone else. I know there are limited options in the free agent market, but would a team really offer him $100 million?
These days, anything is possible.
Certainly the Mariners need outfielders, but Nelson Cruz is not the answer, particularly at that price. The 27 home runs in 109 games last season is somewhat intriguing, but it is hard to imagine that a non-juiced Cruz would club even more homers up in the Pacific Northwest.
Again, we don’t know about the true validity of this rumor, but if it is true the Mariners were fortunate to be rejected.