If not Braun, how about Nelson Cruz?

[stevejrogers]

Has PED "taint" but could be a good bargain.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-rangers/headlines/20131123-report-new-york-mets-pursuing-former-texas-ranger-nelson-cruz.ece?ssimg=1231244#ssStory1313249

Earlier in the month the New York Post reported that the Mets were heavily pursuing Cruz alongside the Rangers and the Mariners, with New York and Seattle making the biggest push. Cruz rejected a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Rangers earlier this offseason. SportsDay's Evan Grant wrote earlier this week that the Rangers could continue to pursue Cruz despite trading for Prince Fielder although they would prefer a left hander instead of a right hander.

[ashie62]

I woul be thrilled to have Cruz to provide OF power desperately needed...

[MFS62]

Sign Cruz, a starter (maybe Scott Feldman if they can't sign Arroyo?), maybe a reliever, find a shortstop, and that's a decent off season. It fills the holes that needed to be filled. Anything more than that would be gravy.

Later

[metirish]

I'd be very happy to see Cruz over here. I don't care about the PED taint.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm not all jazzed over this guy, especially now that we've added Young. He's behind Choo, Either, Grandy Man among those I'd look to fill out the outfield at this point.

[Frayed Knot]

I suppose it's a better idea than signing Pablo Cruise

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Better still than naked Pablo Cruise, but really, not a great idea at all.

[Edgy MD]

Can somebody sum up the anti-Cruz argument?

I was thinking he was a proceed-caution-guy, not a not-a-great-idea-at-all guy.

Is it just about holding off whilst more attractive options remain?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I dunno. Based on my own biased opinion, I have more concern that his power was field + PED related than some of the other guys. Also, considering we're trying to unload up to all three of Ike, Duda, Muffy, and recently inked Young, perhaps its better for the Mets to be dealing for lefthanded sluggers, to extent they can get them.

[metirish]

I'm not optimistic anymore on Cruz or anyone big ticket type come as a free agent, Peralta gets something like $53 million from St. Louis for four years? , guy is 31....Cruz surely gets that or more?

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Can somebody sum up the anti-Cruz argument?

It's the naked album cover. I don't see any way of letting that slide.

[Fman99]

metirish wrote: I'd be very happy to see Cruz over here. I don't care about the PED taint.

We all have taints. It's OK.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: Can somebody sum up the anti-Cruz argument?

-- His non-hitting skills are for shit; Dudaesque in left field, and-- at this point-- Dudaesque on the basepaths.
-- His hitting skills are good, not grrrrreat (wOBAs of .353, .335, .359 in the last three years; career OBP of .327).
-- Home/road splits to rival CarGo (.734 OPS away from Arlington as a Ranger).
-- He's turning 34 this coming season.
-- Like, an old 34. Like, a rickety 34, a 34 that's seen some things. (Often in shady, little-used clubhouse halls... or the backrooms of weight-training facilities... or storefront "medical" offices.)
-- 1.5 fWAR average for each of the last three years.
-- He's played one-- one-- season in his career in which he hasn't missed at least 30 games due to injury.
-- He turned down a $14.1M qualifying offer from the Rangers, so he's looking for at least that much for multiple years. Multiple years that would take him to, say, age 37 or 38.
-- This guy. At 37-38.

I mean, there's some more, but that kinda sums it up.

[metirish]

Well when you put it like that I suppose it would not be wise to invest the $$ he will be looking for never mind the years.

[Edgy MD]

Well, all Casey Stengel evocations aside, I'm convinced.

[smg58]

The career OPS+ of 114 is below the other available outfielders, most of whom are younger, and that's before you factor PEDs into the equation. The fact that he turned down the qualifying offer already means he's not coming at a discount. I see nothing positive at all unless the asking price plummets.

[Ceetar]

smg58 wrote: The career OPS+ of 114 is below the other available outfielders, most of whom are younger, and that's before you factor PEDs into the equation.

That's also Lucas Duda's career OPS+...and we've already pointed out that Duda's probably not much worse if he is worse in the outfield.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, but Cruz is much less passive. I mean, can you see Duda flying down to Miami just for some medicine?

[Edgy MD]

So, given that we have the cheaper, younger, reputably cleaner, funnier, and more familiar model on hand... .

You just wonder if he's going to be a Met that magic day Lucas wakes up and suddenly realizes... holy crap, this game is easy!