MLB Report: Nelson Cruz Signs With The Baltimore Orioles

[MistaNova]

1 year, $8 million with an additional $750,000 in incentives (if he can stay on the active roster for most of the season).

This deal is still pending physical.
If this deal manages to go through this will be a very good pickup for the Orioles.
If it doesn't go through, Cruz joins a pretty long list of players who couldn't pass the Orioles's really weird physical test(s).

[Halu Sination]

Only 1 year, 8 million? Geez I bet this guy feels dumb for turning down the qualifying offer.

[MistaNova]

Although it does raise one question, why couldn't the Mariners sign Cruz to a small pillow contract like this? Did they use so much of their budget that they don't even have $9 million left? Or did Cruz (like almost every other free agent hitter) want to avoid Safeco that fucking much?

[Halu Sination]

Although it does raise one question, why couldn't the Mariners sign Cruz to a small pillow contract like this? Did they use so much of their budget that they don't even have $9 million left? Or did Cruz (like almost every other free agent hitter) want to avoid Safeco that fucking much?

I think you hit the nail on the head with the latter statement. If he's only signing a one year deal, it's because he plans on making his stock higher than ever in this one year. He sure as hell ain't doing that at Safeco lol.

[Remedy360]

Although it does raise one question, why couldn't the Mariners sign Cruz to a small pillow contract like this? Did they use so much of their budget that they don't even have $9 million left? Or did Cruz (like almost every other free agent hitter) want to avoid Safeco that fucking much?

Yeah, it's no secret that right handed power guys have had trouble at Safeco, although the fact that they did move the fences and a lot of homers were hit at Safeco last year is probably changing the perception a bit. What I've also heard is that Adrian Beltre (who is one of Safe-Co's biggest critics) talked to Cruz a lot about his experience playing there which I'm sure didn't help. In general, I think Beltre should shut the fuck up and admit he took roids in LA. I wasn't a fan of bringing in Cruz in the first place for a number of reasons, so I'm not too bent out of shape. With that said, this is a very low risk deal that I would have been fine with. I don't get the sense that we don't have any budget left, but it's certainly possible that he would've wanted more to come here based on the ballpark and the fact that the M's haven't had a good season in a while as opposed the Orioles, who have been a playoff caliber squad the last few seasons.

[Halu Sination]

Although it does raise one question, why couldn't the Mariners sign Cruz to a small pillow contract like this? Did they use so much of their budget that they don't even have $9 million left? Or did Cruz (like almost every other free agent hitter) want to avoid Safeco that fucking much?

Yeah, it's no secret that right handed power guys have had trouble at Safeco, although the fact that they did move the fences and a lot of homers were hit at Safeco last year is probably changing the perception a bit. What I've also heard is that Adrian Beltre (who is one of Safe-Co's biggest critics) talked to Cruz a lot about his experience playing there which I'm sure didn't help. In general, I think Beltre should shut the fuck up and admit he took roids in LA. I wasn't a fan of bringing in Cruz in the first place for a number of reasons, so I'm not too bent out of shape. With that said, this is a very low risk deal that I would have been fine with. I don't get the sense that we don't have any budget left, but it's certainly possible that he would've wanted more to come here based on the ballpark and the fact that the M's haven't had a good season in a while as opposed the Orioles, who have been a playoff caliber squad the last few seasons.

Not saying I would be shocked if Beltre did use roids, but his numbers looked WAY better the moment he left Seattle and went to Red Sox. They've been excellent since coming to Texas too even if their park is tiny.

[Remedy360]

Although it does raise one question, why couldn't the Mariners sign Cruz to a small pillow contract like this? Did they use so much of their budget that they don't even have $9 million left? Or did Cruz (like almost every other free agent hitter) want to avoid Safeco that fucking much?

Yeah, it's no secret that right handed power guys have had trouble at Safeco, although the fact that they did move the fences and a lot of homers were hit at Safeco last year is probably changing the perception a bit. What I've also heard is that Adrian Beltre (who is one of Safe-Co's biggest critics) talked to Cruz a lot about his experience playing there which I'm sure didn't help. In general, I think Beltre should shut the fuck up and admit he took roids in LA. I wasn't a fan of bringing in Cruz in the first place for a number of reasons, so I'm not too bent out of shape. With that said, this is a very low risk deal that I would have been fine with. I don't get the sense that we don't have any budget left, but it's certainly possible that he would've wanted more to come here based on the ballpark and the fact that the M's haven't had a good season in a while as opposed the Orioles, who have been a playoff caliber squad the last few seasons.

Not saying I would be shocked if Beltre did use roids, but his numbers looked WAY better the moment he left Seattle and went to Red Sox. They've been excellent since coming to Texas too even if their park is tiny.

Point taken, but the dropoff just seemed so dramatic, he almost hit 50 that year in LA and hasn't come close to that since. He has certainly done a lot better since leaving Seattle but I don't think there's a case for him being the best hitter in his league like there was that year in LA. For the record I liked him when he was here, the guy ruptured a testicle mid-game and kept playing, so it obviously was never a lack of effort. Just annoys me that he's gonna be in the ears of other guys talking shit about the ballpark after we gave him a huge payday and he underperformed.

[MistaNova]

Speaking of ballparks, I wonder if the AL West is the division with the most number of joke ballparks.

O.co is definitely a joke stadium. It's got sewage problems and it looks like a toilet. Hell, even the A's are anxious to get the fuck out of Oakland and move to San Jose.
Minute Maid Park is a joke stadium. And I actually love the weird features like the hill in centerfield and the train inside the stadium, but I don't like how the place looks like one of the most miserable places on Earth on TV.
Rangers Ballpark In Arlington Globe Life Park is a joke since baseballs refuse to stay inside the stadium.
Safeco is a joke stadium since it's basically where hitters go to die.
The only "normal" stadium might be Angels Stadium and even that's got it's fair share of flaws.

Come to think about it I think the NL West might have more joke ballparks...

[Halu Sination]

Speaking of ballparks, I wonder if the AL West is the division with the most number of joke ballparks.

O.co is definitely a joke stadium. It's got sewage problems and it looks like a toilet. Hell, even the A's are anxious to get the fuck out of Oakland and move to San Jose.
Minute Maid Park is a joke stadium. And I actually love the weird features like the hill in centerfield and the train inside the stadium, but I don't like how the place looks like one of the most miserable places on Earth on TV.
Rangers Ballpark In Arlington Globe Life Park is a joke since baseballs refuse to stay inside the stadium.
Safeco is a joke stadium since it's basically where hitters go to die.
The only "normal" stadium might be Angels Stadium and even that's got it's fair share of flaws.

Come to think about it I think the NL West might have more joke ballparks...

What are Angels' stadiums flaws? I ask this as a guy who goes to Dodger games all the time (our stadium is ancient though we've made a lot of nice renovations)... Angels' stadium is way sicker than ours.

[MistaNova]

I think Dodgers Stadium is decent (even compared to Angels Stadium). Although Washington Park, Eastern Park, Ridgewood Park and Ebbets Field were way better because those ballparks were in New York. And everything is better in New York.

As far as Angels Stadium's flaws go I don't have too much (hence why I said it was probably the most normal one) but Angels field does kind of learn towards a pitchers park. It's not a graveyard like Petco or Safeco but considering how Jered Weaver can be an ace there even though he'd most likely be a number 2 on most other teams, I can't help but feel like that kind of knocks a few points off of Angels Stadium's overall grade (which is still pretty higher than the rest of parks in the league).

[Halu Sination]

I think Dodgers Stadium is decent (even compared to Angels Stadium). Although Washington Park, Eastern Park, Ridgewood Park and Ebbets Field were way better because those ballparks were in New York. And everything is better in New York.

As far as Angels Stadium's flaws go I don't have too much (hence why I said it was probably the most normal one) but Angels field does kind of learn towards a pitchers park. It's not a graveyard like Petco or Safeco but considering how Jered Weaver can be an ace there even though he'd most likely be a number 2 on most other teams, I can't help but feel like that kind of knocks a few points off of Angels Stadium's overall grade (which is still pretty higher than the rest of parks in the league).

Oh don't get me wrong, Dodgers Stadium is dope too. And it's even better now after the renovations. But I think the tranquil and sleek look at Angels Stadium makes it seem way sicker. I guess it depends on preference though.

But yeah Angels Stadium is definitely a pitchers' park. So is Dodgers Stadium to an extent, come to think of it.

[Remedy360]

Speaking of ballparks, I wonder if the AL West is the division with the most number of joke ballparks.

O.co is definitely a joke stadium. It's got sewage problems and it looks like a toilet. Hell, even the A's are anxious to get the fuck out of Oakland and move to San Jose.
Minute Maid Park is a joke stadium. And I actually love the weird features like the hill in centerfield and the train inside the stadium, but I don't like how the place looks like one of the most miserable places on Earth on TV.
Rangers Ballpark In Arlington Globe Life Park is a joke since baseballs refuse to stay inside the stadium.
Safeco is a joke stadium since it's basically where hitters go to die.
The only "normal" stadium might be Angels Stadium and even that's got it's fair share of flaws.

Come to think about it I think the NL West might have more joke ballparks...

If Safeco is a joke, then Yankee stadium is as well for the opposite reason. I'll never forget when Johnny Damon hit a ball to right field, threw his bat down in frustration, and the ball went over the fence.

[MistaNova]

Oh don't get me wrong, Dodgers Stadium is dope too. And it's even better now after the renovations. But I think the tranquil and sleek look at Angels Stadium makes it seem way sicker. I guess it depends on preference though.

But yeah Angels Stadium is definitely a pitchers' park. So is Dodgers Stadium to an extent, come to think of it.

I guess I'm just a sucker for older stadiums. I adore Wrigley Field and like Fenway Park even though I'm not too fond of the team that calls that place home.

BTW, is it me or are the 5 stadiums in the NL West all extreme parks? Colorado and Arizona are extreme hitters parks and Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego are extreme pitchers parks. Is that a fair or flawed statement?

If Safeco is a joke, then Yankee stadium is as well for the opposite reason. I'll never forget when Johnny Damon hit a ball to right field, threw his bat down in frustration, and the ball went over the fence.

I like how you thought it necessary to shit on Yankee Stadium after I shit on Safeco.

I will agree that New Yankee Stadium is a joke though. Balls hit thrown over to right field refuse to stay inside the ballpark and the entire complex looks like a parody of the original house that Ruth built.