MLBTradeRumors projects Cruz at 4/70

[AlbionHero]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/free-agent-profile-nelson-cruz-2.html

Steve projected that Cabrera would land a five-year, $66.25MM and rightly noted that Cabrera is four years younger and has more defensive value. Still, Cruz has power on his side and that is at a major premium around the game. His age will preclude him from the same length on the contract but he can still get a very healthy payday for himself on a slightly shorter deal. I predict that Cruz will ultimately best Granderson?s deal from last winter with a four-year, $70MM deal.

Bye bye Nelson if true.

[Bahama O's Fan]

Market is determined by supply and demand. You can't just quote a price. Who do you think is willing to pay that? And you need at least two; smart teams don't bid against themselves.

[AlbionHero]

Market is determined by supply and demand. You can't just quote a price. Who do you think is willing to pay that? And you need at least two; smart teams don't bid against themselves.

Mariners? Rangers? Both could use a big middle of the lineup hitter and have plenty of money to spend.

[2010BUCK26]

I could see him getting that somewhere, but I hope he stays here. It really isn't that much more above the qualifying offer. I could see teams paying that to get him, especially our division rivals to the north.

[Sanfran327]

Mariners? Rangers? Both could use a big middle of the lineup hitter and have plenty of money to spend.

Why does everyone assume that the Rangers would give him that much money when they're the ones that let him walk? Why would they give him $70M when he's two years older then when they last had him?

[Il BuonO]

3/$50 with a vesting option for a 4th. Ortiz was paid $16 per at his highest and Cruz will be mainly a DH going forward.

[clapdiddy]

Wow...I love me some Nelson Cruz, but no way would I offer that type of contract.

[MurphDogg]

3/$50 with a vesting option for a 4th. Ortiz was paid $16 per at his highest and Cruz will be mainly a DH going forward.

That makes it sound like Ortiz was paid $16 million during his prime. Ortiz is making $16 million this coming season.

[Rick_Schu]

Lock him up for 4 years, that's not all that long a contract. He'll be in his late 30's, but we are not asking him to play shortstop or CF, just DH, hit the ball. He looks to be in great shape, he'll be able to hit when he's Ortiz' age. Plus I think over the years he'll help make Schoop and AJ and Davis better hitters. We've all been screaming for a #4 hitter for years, we finally have one, let's keep him.

[sjoslyn]

I for one, would love to have him produce at or near his 2014 season for 3-4 years. Especially competing in our division we need a solid 4th and he has fit the mold perfectly this past season. I think 4/$60 would get it done.

[PaulFolk]

I for one, would love to have him produce at or near his 2014 season for 3-4 years.

I think everyone would love that. But the chances of that happening are slim, to put it mildly. Players don't tend to sustain 40-homer production when they're 36-37 years old.

[theobird]

At 4 years and anywhere near that AAV, you absolutely have to let him go and take the draft pick. No way Dan Duquette goes into that territory to sign a guy on the wrong side of 35.

[MurphDogg]

At 4 years and anywhere near that AAV, you absolutely have to let him go and take the draft pick. No way Dan Duquette goes into that territory to sign a guy on the wrong side of 35.

34 is the wrong side of 35?

[TonySoprano]

34 is the wrong side of 35?

He's 35 next July and I believe he was referring to the last part of a multi-year deal.

[MurphDogg]

He's 35 next July and I believe he was referring to the last part of a multi-year deal.

No, that isn't what "signing a guy on the wrong side of 35" means. It obviously implies that he is older than 35 at the time you sign him. "Signing a guy through the wrong side of 35" would carry the meaning that you are inferring.

You may consider this a semantic argument but it caused me to think when I read it, "wait Nelson is 35?" and then look it up to make sure.