Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Washington Nationals

DH slugger Nelson Cruz, Nationals reach 1-yr deal

The 41-year-old Cruz has 449 career home runs

Associated Press
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for March 14 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for March 14

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Free agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal, a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

The 41-year-old Cruz has 449 career home runs and becomes the first full-time DH to join a National League team since MLB's new labor deal included a universal designated hitter.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Cruz is returning for an 18th major league season. The slugger hit .265 with 32 home runs and 86 RBIs with the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays in 2021.

Cruz gets a $12 million salary this year, and the deal includes a $16 million mutual option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout.

FILE - Tampa Bay Rays' Nelson Cruz connects on an RBI-double against the Boston Red Sox during the 10th inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, at Fenway Park in Boston. A person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the free agent slugger and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year contract.

FILE - Tampa Bay Rays' Nelson Cruz connects on an RBI-double against the Boston Red Sox during the 10th inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, at Fenway Park in Boston. A person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the free agent slugger and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year contract. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

A seven-time All-Star, he's a career .277 hitter with 1,238 RBIs for the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Twins and Rays.

The NL used the DH during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The new labor agreement that owners and players reached Thursday brings the extra hitter to the NL for every game, including the World Series.

Cruz has hit 18 home runs in 50 postseason games. The Rays acquired him from Minnesota last July 22 in their push toward the playoffs.

Some NL teams might rotate the DH spot, letting several players fill the role in order to give them a day off from playing the field. Other clubs might want a permanent solution, and Cruz certainly fills that role.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Cruz made one start in the field last year — playing first base for the first time in his career, he made a nifty pickup on a bounced throw to end the first inning at Philadelphia. He delivered a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth to win that game.

Prior to that, his previous time with a mitt was 2018 when he made four starts in right field for Seattle.