Twins no longer pursuing Cruz

According to this article, their latest offer to Cruz was unacceptable, which means they never even got a chance to talk "sign and trade" specifics with Arizona. Which means Cruz is still available if the Cubs can come up with an acceptable offer to both Cruz and Arizona.

More likely though is the Twins still needing bullpen help. Maybe Vizcaino for one of their backup infielder types? Paging DGU...

9 months ago ballhawk 12 comments 0 recs |

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Cruz

IMO he is the perfect candidate to wait until the compensation deadline to sign with a team. I’m not sure if it’s June or July but at some point the Dbacks lose the right to a draft pick. He’d be wise to wait until that time when some team in contention is in need of bullpen help. A team, even like the Cubs, could choose between signing Juan Cruz, who is a free agent, for decent dollars, or trading a good prospect and paying the rest of the salary of a reliever who is on trade block. Whether Cruz signs a contract with an indy league team or hires someone to help keep his arm in shape, I think he should sit the first few months of the season out and wait for teams looking for a fresh bullpen arm.

by dmlichte on Feb 26, 2009 9:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I can't imagine a major leaguer voluntarily sitting out half the season.

But, this is a different market. There are still a LOT of players sitting home who want to play. At some point, they will have to take less money to play if they want to play a whole season.

And your indy league idea doesn’t really work, because most of the indy leagues don’t start till late May or early June anyway — that’s not much time for anyone to bother doing that. (And the Frontier League, for example, has an age limit — no one over 27.)

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Feb 26, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe they lose the

Right to the pick after the June Draft

"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb

by TheRiot Police on Feb 26, 2009 11:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Vizcaino idea is a really good one.

The Twins, clearly, were willing to pay Cruz (probably) about what Vizcaino is making. Maybe there’s a contract the Cubs could take among the Twins’ backups?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Feb 26, 2009 10:10 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Good thiking, but who do they have to offer since it would likely be a contract wash situation

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 26, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Financially, it'd be tough to find a wash.

They closest fit in terms of money would be Nick Punto, who just re-signed with Minnesota in the offseason. He’s on a 2-year, $8.5 million deal.

In terms of personnel, I think Brendan Harris could be expendable, if Punto plays SS and Crede 3B.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Feb 26, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Vizcaino's deal is fairly affordable.

Maybe the Twins would take it anyway, since they’d probably have paid Cruz about what Vizcaino is making.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Feb 26, 2009 1:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

by Al on Feb 26, 2009 6:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Juan Cruz of current vintage is distinctly better than Jose Vizcaino

They are not viewed as like parts. In my opinion there is no market for Vizcaino unless the Cubs gulp salary. Hence why I think the Cubs keep him and hope for the best.

by BLou on Feb 26, 2009 10:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs