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From the beginning of the MLB offseason, Nelson Cruz seemed like a very good fit for the Baltimore Orioles, with their interest in Cruz reported early on. They weren’t alone, however.

Several teams seeking a power-hitting outfielder showed interest in the two-time All-Star, which is why his reported asking price of four years and $75 million, per Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, didn’t seem too outlandish, despite his 50-game late-season suspension in connection with the Biogenesis scandal. After all, Jhonny Peralta, suspended for the same reason as Cruz, received a four-year, $53 million deal from the St. Louis Cardinals in late November.

Surprisingly, that price wasn’t anywhere close to what any team was willing to pay the 33-year-old Cruz.

As was the case when starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez fell into their laps earlier in the week on a free-agent deal much lower than what had been anticipated—Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported in early January that Jimenez sought a multiyear deal for more than $14 million annually; he signed a four-year, $50 million deal with Baltimore—the Orioles’ patience paid off.

Cruz agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal, as reported by Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes and Jayson Stark of ESPN Saturday.

It was only 10 days ago that I handed the O’s a “D” grade on their offseason, citing a lack of aggressiveness that would make it difficult to stay on pace in a very tough AL East. But with the additions of Jimenez and Cruz at those discounted rates, that grade has jumped to a “B,” with the team’s trade of closer Jim Johnson and subsequent failure to bring in a reliable late-inning reliever as the only concern.

Until the deal was struck with Jimenez, the team’s uneventful offseason was a concern for Orioles players, as well. All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that those concerns were eased after the Jimenez deal was announced. 

“It was a tough winter,” said Hardy. “There were times you questioned where this organization is going. It showed all of us that they were willing to spend some money and assures us that we’re trying to get better. That was a good sign. It definitely sends a message to us. And it makes us better.”

Adding Cruz only adds to that assurance and should make for a very confident Orioles clubhouse heading into the season.

The Orioles not only get Cruz at a very team-friendly $8 million salary for 2014—he can also earn an additional $750,000 in incentives—the concerns over his age and poor defense are minimized because it’s only a one-year commitment and they’ll likely be able to give him most of his at-bats at the designated hitter spot.

Cruz’s most valuable skill, his power, can also be maximized by playing half of his games at hitter-friendly Camden Yards—he has a .333 batting average (27-for-81) with two homers and six doubles in 21 career games there—and 10 games at Fenway Park, where he has a career 1.163 OPS and four homers in 18 games.

While he hasn’t had great success in the ballparks of the other three division rivals, the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays, all are particularly favorable to home run hitters.

Hitting in the middle of an already very powerful Orioles lineup—the team led the majors with 212 homers in 2013; the next closest team had 188—Cruz has a chance to put up the kind of numbers that would make him a very attractive option on the free-agent market next offseason.

The right-handed-hitting slugger should be highly motivated after an offseason in which he left several million dollars on the table (he declined the Texas Rangers‘ qualifying offer of a 2014 contract that would have paid him $14.1 million) and had countless teams pass on the opportunity to sign him to a multiyear deal.

Cruz admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs two offseasons ago in order to aid him in his recovery from a gastrointestinal infection that caused him to lose 40 pounds. If they were a non-factor in his 2013 success (.833 OPS, 27 HR, 18 2B in 109 games) and over the course of an impressive five-year run with the Rangers (.842 OPS, 27 HR, 29 2B, 81 RBI, 12 SB per season from 2009 to 2013), it’s not hard to imagine another big season that far exceeds the value of his contract.

Such a scenario would make the O’s and general manager Dan Duquette look like geniuses for waiting out a market that saw free-agent outfielders Marlon Byrd, Rajai Davis, Nate McLouth and David Murphy get two-year deals for $16 million, $10 million, $10.75 million and $12 million, respectively, and Chris Young get a one-year, $7.25 million deal from the New York Mets after a terrible season with the Oakland A’s.

A typical Nelson Cruz season will also have the teams that signed the aforementioned players rethinking their offseason strategy and possibly taking a more patient, Baltimore Orioles-like approach in the future.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Veteran right fielder Nelson Cruz has reportedly signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes:

Brittany Ghiroli of Orioles.com confirmed the deal:

Cruz was one of the top hitters on the open market and projects to make a real impact in the middle of the order for the Orioles. 

The 33-year-old has a career batting average of .268, an on-base percentage of .327 and a slugging percentage of .495. He’s racked up 774 hits, 489 RBI and 157 home runs since breaking into the majors back in 2005.

The nine-year veteran was extended a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers, but he opted to test the market.

At the time, general manager Jon Daniels told Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News:

It’s a relatively easy decision. We’d be happy to have him [Cruz] back on a one-year deal. And we’re not prohibited from continuing to talk to him while he sees what the market is. If he signs elsewhere, we get a draft pick that helps us as well.

The Orioles know exactly what they’re getting with Cruz: a consistent hitter who has averaged 27 home runs per season since the 2009 campaign.

The Dominican native is also prone to missing time, as he has only once competed in more than 130 games in a single season during his career.

Cruz notably missed 50 games due to a suspension during the 2013 season, accepting the ban due to his alleged involvement in the now-infamous Biogenesis scandal.

He completed the suspension and was activated for the Rangers’ one-game playoff against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he went hitless in the 5-2 loss.  

Given Baltimore’s need for another big bat in a lineup that only had inconsistent pop outside of Chris Davis and Adam Jones last year, it’s a great signing for the O’s, assuming he can stay healthy. 

The Orioles once again have designs on contending in the incredibly competitive AL East, and Cruz gives them a massive boost in getting there. They went 93-69 in 2012 but fell to 85-77 in 2013. 

While he doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot, and he can’t help a questionable pitching staff, Cruz’s presence will certainly help Baltimore against the Red Sox, Rays, Yankees and Blue Jays. 

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The Texas Rangers are looking to put the 2013 season completely in their rear view as they gear up for 2014.

Last year was filled with both good and bad memories, from a near-perfect game to a trade that didn’t pan out. The team also made history during a July series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Texas didn’t get a chance at a playoff run, but it was still a fun season to watch.

We are going to look at some of the most memorable events from this past season, whether we want to remember it forever or erase it from memory.

What are the most memorable events for you from 2013?

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Christmas is around the corner, but don’t expect an impact outfielder under the tree from your favorite baseball team. 

Unless Nelson Cruz is the apple of your eye, the outfield market is close to bone-dry before 2014 begins due to a flurry of activity at the top of the market.

With Shin-Soo Choo‘s arrival in Texas, the top outfielders, including New York Yankees imports Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran, are off the board. 

According to Yahoo! Sports’ free-agent tracker, Choo, Ellsbury and Beltran, respectively, were the third-, fifth- and sixth-best free agents available this winter. When factoring in Marlon Byrd’s signing in Philadelphia, Curtis Granderson with the New York Mets and Corey Hart’s relocation to Seattle, the outfield market has taken shape quickly.

The following is a look at what is left for needy teams, an outfielder with potential to once again profile as an impact player and the best of the rest.

*All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.

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Jonathan Papelbon and Kyle Kendrick are on the trading block for a reason, and that reason’s name is Nelson Cruz. The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to find wiggle room financially so they can land another high-priced free agent or two.

Early speculation has the Phillies in on Matt Garza, Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez. With up to $26 million already available to be spent, deals involving Papelbon ($13 million) and Kendrick (projected $7 million) could free up another $20 million so long as the Phillies don’t have to consume any portion of Papelbon’s remaining deal.

The notion of having close to $46 million available to spend while we head into Major League Baseball’s winter meetings is appetizing for Phillies nation. With none of the aforementioned trio of pitchers expected to land a deal worth more than $15 million annually, a $31 million void remains.

Let’s suppose the Phillies do end up dealing Papelbon while swallowing $5 million of his annual salary. This would leave the Phillies with $26 million remaining before they encroach upon the luxury tax (after signing one of Garza, Santana or Jimenez, of course).

One major hypothetical question remains. Do the Phillies pursue Nelson Cruz?

Cruz’s asking price rests at $25 million per season. He is looking for a four-year deal. Lofty expectations aside, Cruz is also backed into a corner because he rejected a qualifying offer. This means that nearly two-thirds of MLB‘s organizations will be reluctant to sign Cruz to any deal because they would then lose their first-round selection in the 2014 MLB Draft.

One team that wouldn’t lose a pick is the Phillies.

Drafting seventh overall in next year’s draft, the Phillies can’t lose their first round pick by signing someone who was extended a qualifying offer because it is protected. This gives them a relative advantage over other organizations.

First, the Phillies have the capital to splurge on a riskier free agent like Cruz. Second, the Phillies don’t have to worry about losing their pick in next year’s draft. Finally, the Phillies are an organization that matches well with Cruz’s skill set.

Thanks to declining power from Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, the Phillies are in need of some extra muscle at the plate. They signed Marlon Byrd to a two-year deal worth $16 million (plus a third-year option) but Byrd can’t reasonably be expected to repeat his numbers from last year. 

Domonic Brown emerged as a power threat at the plate, but he is a left-handed hitter. As every fan knows, the Phillies need some might from the right side of the plate. 

With Carlos Beltran inking a deal with the New York Yankees for $15 million annually, one has to suspect that Cruz’s asking price will come down as we tread further into the winter. No organization can logically sign Cruz for $10 million more per season than Beltran received, even if Cruz will be three years younger than Beltran.

While Beltran’s deal makes Cruz more signable, many parts must move accordingly for it to work. With the organization tendering John Mayberry, the Phillies will have outfielders tripping over themselves.

Brown, Byrd, Ben Revere and Mayberry plus the addition of Cruz makes for a crowded outfield. Now let’s not fool ourselves, we know what the pecking order would be. 

Would the Phillies be willing to swallow their pride and realize the acquisition of Revere last winter was a mistake and move him? A lefty with no power in a lineup loaded with power deficient lefties makes no sense. Coming off of an injury makes Revere nearly untradeable though.

Domonic Brown simply cannot be traded. Despite some suggesting his 2013 emergence was a fluke, at 26-years-old, Brown is the only source of power the Phillies have under the age of 30, even if his production slows down moving forward.

The Phillies could look at moving Revere into a bench role and trading Mayberry for whatever they can get. This could open right field for Cruz. This is contingent on the Phillies trusting Byrd in center field. Byrd hasn’t started more than 100 games in center since 2011 with the Chicago Cubs though.

Despite sounding like such, Cruz-to-Philadelphia is not blind speculation. The Phillies have been linked to Cruz for some time. The odds of landing him remain pretty slim though. Too many pieces have to be moved in order for a Cruz deal to work.

However, Beltran’s deal does make Cruz’s $25 million asking price look salty. If one thing is certain, it is that Cruz’s asking price will come down somewhat. One thing that is not certain is whether or not the Phillies will dish out the juice to get him.

If the Phillies do sign Cruz, things will have to already have occurred or major changes will loom. First, Papelbon and/or Kendrick will have to have been dealt. Second, the Phillies would have moved or are planning to move Brown, Revere or Mayberry. Finally, the front office has to realize its lack of right-handed hitting power will not suffice in the near-term.

Switch-hitting Rollins, Byrd and Carlos Ruiz are the only projected 2014 starters who hit from the right side of the plate. Howard, Brown, Utley, Revere and Cody Asche all stand in the left batter’s box. Something has to change. One change that could boost the Phillies offense would be the signing of Cruz.

As friendly as his asking price might be in the aftermath of the Beltran-to-New York deal, don’t expect it to happen. There are too many moving parts involved.

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Just when you thought you had seen and heard it all in this time of outrageous contracts and outrageous contract demands, along comes Nelson Cruz demanding $75 million.

That’s the word according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, anyway. In the wake of Jhonny Peralta landing a four-year, $53 million deal from the St. Louis Cardinals, Heyman says Cruz is looking for “about” $75 million over four years. Or, if you prefer, about $18.75 million per year.

The general message: Hey, if Peralta can get a huge contract after being suspended for 50 games as a result of the Biogenesis investigation, then why not Cruz?

Here’s hoping the answer to that question is that there’s no way in heck that he could possibly live up to such a contract.

We can start by shooting one idea out of the sky: Peralta and Cruz may be in the same boat as far as Biogenesis, but they’re not in the same boat as players. One is significantly better than the other.

And it’s not the player Heyman thinks it is:

Free-agent outfielder Nelson Cruz had to be heartened by Jhonny Peralta’s $53 million deal, as Cruz is the better of these two Biogenesis-connected players.

Based on recent history, this just isn’t true. If we look at what Cruz, the up-until-now Texas Rangers star, and Peralta have done in the last three seasons using data from FanGraphs, we get this:

Cruz’s biggest edge is in power, as his .226 ISO over the last three seasons dwarfs Peralta’s .160 ISO. There’s not much separation between the two in wOBA and wRC+, however, in part because getting on base is kind of important and Cruz hasn’t been as good as Peralta at doing so.

Peralta’s other major edge is on defense. He gets a bad rap as a shortstop, but fielding metrics like Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved have tended to see him as a solid defender. These same metrics have seen Cruz as a well-below-average defender since the start of 2011.

Thanks to his ability to get on base, hit for some power and play solid defense at a premium position, he’s a WAR hero. And based on FanGraphs‘ WAR-based value system, he’s been worth at least $18 million in two of the last three years. He just signed a contract worth quite a bit less than that per year.

Cruz, on the other hand, has been worth less than $10 million in each of the last three seasons. The power may be there, but he’s not living up to a contract that would pay him almost $19 million per year unless he gets better at getting on base and playing defense.

Alas, one struggles to find reasons why he would.

It’s going to be hard for Cruz to get on base more consistently as long as he’s maintaining a roughly league-average walk rate, and his tendency towards fly balls will make sure his BABIP stays close to the average. It also doesn’t help that he strikes out more than the average hitter.

As for Cruz’s defense, it’s hardly surprising that a 230-pounder in his 30s suddenly has below-average range. It’s not hard to imagine Cruz having to be moved to first base, or perhaps into a full-time role as a designated hitter. 

Neither would help Cruz’s value all that much, if at all. Because according to FanGraphs, the only two positions that are less important than right field are…yup, first base and DH.

If it’s all-around production teams are after, there’s no way any of them can justify giving Cruz a $75 million contract. Such contracts should only go to frontline pitchers and position players with more than one talent. Cruz is neither.

But what the heck. Let’s assume that there’s a team out there that doesn’t give a rat’s you-know-what about anything besides Cruz’s power. Let’s assume this team is willing to pay for that and only that.

Well, this theoretical team could certainly be eyeing a worse player. Because Cruz isn’t just a great power source. He’s a great right-handed power source.

“Right-handed power is in short supply, and Cruz has it in spades,” wrote Steve Adams of MLBTradeRumors.com.

That pretty much sums it up. So does this graph comparing Cruz’s ISOs since 2006 to those of MLB‘s right-handed hitters since then:

After a modest bump in 2012, right-handed power in MLB went on the downturn again in 2013. Cruz, however, is still chugging away as an elite right-handed power hitter. 

Cruz is surely aware of this, so it’s not hard to see where he’s coming from. If you knew you had something that teams have every reason to covet, wouldn’t you seek a $75 million payday?

Of course you would. And Heyman‘s right. Given what Cruz has to offer, it’s not a shocker that he has so many teams interested in him.

What would be a shocker, however, is if there’s even one team out there that actually views $75 million as a price worth paying for Cruz’s power. Because as attractive as his power is, it does come with some strings attached.

Because Cruz has gotten to play half his games at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington since being traded to the Rangers in 2006, you’ve probably already figured that his power has less-than-awesome home/road splits. There are, after all, few ballparks that are as launchily-paddily as the Rangers’ digs.

We can use FanGraphs data to take a look at how Cruz’s power has played at home and on the road since 2006: 

About what you’d expect, and that’s not good.

The plate appearances are about even, but there’s a sizable difference between Cruz’s home ISO and his road ISO. A primary symptom of that is what’s going on in the FB% and HR/FB columns. Cruz has hit more fly balls away from home, but fewer balls over the fence. 

In addition to his on-base mediocrity, this is a big reason why park-adjusted stats like wRC+ (114 career) and OPS+ (also 114 career) say that Cruz is only a moderately above-average hitter. His power just isn’t that explosive when he’s away from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, which fits with its reputation as a park that makes power out to be more explosive than it really is.

This should be a red flag for interested parties. Another should be Cruz’s age.

As far as free agents go, Cruz isn’t young. He’s through his age-32 season, and the four-year deal he seeks would cover his age 33-36 seasons.

Let’s do an experiment. Cruz has compiled a .233 ISO over 2,056 plate appearances in his last four seasons. How many right-handed hitters have ever done that well between the ages of 33 and 36?

According to Baseball-Reference.com, only 16. And they are:

The most recent of these guys was Manny Ramirez, and there’s obviously a taint on his late-career production. Same goes for Gary Sheffield. And for Sammy Sosa as well. And for Mark McGwire. 

We don’t have to go all the way down the line trying to sniff out other PED guys. You get the idea, which is that it’s not at all easy for hitters to A) stay on the field and B) hit for legit power once they get into their mid-30s.

And for the record, it does appear to be harder for right-handed batters to do it than lefty batters and switch-hitters. A search also returned 16 lefty batters and switch-hitters who managed at least 2,000 plate appearances and a .230 ISO between the ages of 33 and 36, but none of them did worse than .240. Five of the righty batters pictured above did worse than .240.

That there are precious few power success stories for the 33-36 age group fits with the conventional wisdom for how power ages. FanGraphs‘ Eno Sarris, for example, did research that found that the real danger period for power is in a hitter’s late 20s. That’s when the decline starts to ramp up, and it only gets worse for hitters in their 30s.

And no, Cruz wouldn’t appear to be a great candidate to age well. Per Baseball Prospectus, his injury history includes six trips to the disabled list, all since 2009 and all with leg injuries. And while it didn’t necessarily impact his 2013 season given that the clinic closed well before Opening Day, his connection to Biogenesis doesn’t look good.

So paying Cruz based on the notion that he’ll be a good all-around player? He’s not good at getting on base or playing defense, so that notion fails the “good idea” test.

As for paying Cruz based on the notion that he’ll be a consistent source of right-handed power, his home/road splits and his age are both red flags. That notion fails the “good idea” test as well.

Cruz can’t be blamed for looking for something as grand as four years and $75 million. He’s a free agent. What free agents do is negotiate. When negotiating, it’s rarely a good idea to low-ball one’s value.

Especially not at a time like this. Extra money from MLB’s new national TV deals is out there to be had, and it doesn’t take a great set of eyes to see that clubs aren’t afraid to distribute it. Carlos Ruiz got $26 million. Jason Vargas got $32 million. Though it wasn’t a bad deal, $53 million is more than people figured Peralta would get. All of this makes for an extra reason to aim high.

But based on his skills and where he’s at in his career, Cruz would have a hard enough time living up to even as much as a $50 million contract. By targeting $75 million, he’s aiming much higher than any team should be willing to go.

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted/linked.

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The offseason ahead will potentially be one of immense surprise for the Philadelphia Phillies, for a few reasons. First and foremost, the oft-mentioned television contract situation will near its climax, as the Phillies are expected to sign their new, multi-billion dollar TV deal within the next month, according to CBS Philly.

In addition, the Phillies are close to hiring a much-needed statistician, per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. While that alone is unlikely to alter the dynamic of the Phillies front office, it should influence future contracts and trades, at least to some extent.

Third, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. always has some tricks up his sleeve. Just how he plans on utilizing them this offseason remains to be seen, and whether or not they make sense will depend just on how he restructures his philosophy of signing and acquiring players, if at all.

In the following slides, five realistic moves independent of one another will be presented. Again, this slideshow does not and will not suggest that all five moves be made; rather, any of the five moves could come to fruition this winter and at least should be considered.

Here are five realistic moves the Phillies should consider in the coming offseason.

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The MLB playoffs are heating up with some incredible games going down in both the ALCS and the NLCS, and as things move closer and closer to the 2013 MLB World Series, one thing will be on the mind of baseball fans everywhere, especially fans whose teams have been eliminated: free agency. 

Here is a quick look at some of the best bats coming onto the free agency market this offseason.

Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals

Carlos Beltran has had a huge season. He batted an impressive .296 with 24 homeruns and 84 RBI and has been a major part of the Cardinals’ playoff run. He’s now reaching the end of his two-year, $26 million deal which means that the 36-year-old beast has a choice to make: stay in St. Louis or test the waters and find another contender to lead to the promised land. 

Beltran is one of the best offensive weapons in the major leagues, bringing over 80 runners home in each of his last three seasons, and given his age, he would be a great addition to any American League team in need of a big bat to bolster their lineup at the designated hitter position. 

According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, there have been rumors floating around the city of the former Met heading to the Bronx and donning Yankee pinstripes. 

Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers

Nelson Cruz, like Beltran, is one of the best batters in the MLB, and also like Beltran, he’ll be able to test free agency during the offseason. But Cruz has something against him that Beltran doesn’t have to worry about: a PED suspension.

Cruz was suspended for 50 games this season, but even with the suspension, he batted .266, hit 27 homeruns and brought 76 runners across the plate for the Rangers. Cruz has had over 70 RBI every season since 2009 and is one of the most consistent run-producers in the major leagues. 

Any team that needs to add a little pop in their lineup would be smart to pursue Cruz for his on-field production, but it’ll be interesting to see how teams approach him after his PED suspension in 2013. 

Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

Robinson Cano has been one of the most consistent Yankees over the last few years, putting up 27 homeruns and 107 RBI while batting .314 this season alone. Cano has been a Yankee since 2005, but now, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPN.com, Cano is demanding big money for his elite skills at second base and ridiculous production at the plate.

Because Cano will be demanding beau-coups bucks, the Yanks have a very tough decision during the offseason. Do they re-sign this life-long Yankee and lose a bunch of extra money in the process, or do they look for a way to fill his shoes, either at second base or at home plate?

We’ll get the answer in a few months, as Cano and the Yankees both have the opportunity to explore all of the various options out there in free agency. 

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One of the biggest questions surrounding Nelson Cruz‘s 50-game suspension for his involvement with the Biogenesis Anti-Aging Clinic was whether or not the Texas Rangers would welcome their All-Star right fielder back to the team when his suspension was up, just in time for the playoffs.

On Friday, Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News got us an answer to that question:

On one hand, it makes sense for the Rangers to welcome Cruz back into the fold.

The 33-year-old Cruz was having another solid season at the plate before his suspension, hitting .269./330/.511 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI. Players who can produce like that don’t grow on trees, and adding his bat to the mix—in theory, at least—would make Texas a more dangerous team than it is now.

It’s not as if Cruz has been sitting around, watching TV on his couch and eating junk food during his suspension either.

He’s worked out at the Rangers academy in the Dominican Republic and, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, took early batting practice and issued a public apology to the fans and his teammates on Friday.

In addition to that, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers plan on sending Cruz to Arizona next week, where he’ll do his best to keep his timing down and swing sharp by facing minor league talent in Instructional League games.

Both Cruz and the Rangers appear to be doing everything possible to keep him in shape and as close to his midseason form as possible without facing major league pitching.

But there’s the other hand to discuss, and on that other hand lies Alex Rios and Lance Berkman.

Texas went out and acquired Rios in a waiver-wire trade with the White Sox to replace Cruz’s bat in the lineup, while the former All-Star Berkman is expected to be activated when major league rosters expand on Sunday, according to Matt Snyder of CBS Sports.

While adding Cruz back into the mix would create a logjam in the outfield and at designated hitter, it would also give manager Ron Washington options with the lineup.

Take a look at three potential playoff lineups with Cruz in the mix: 

While both Cruz and Rios are right-handed batters and both more successful facing left-handed pitching than right-handers, Cruz has better numbers against righties than Rios does. Whether Rios would be amenable to platooning with Cruz is the big question—one that there is no definite answer to.

While Berkman replacing Mitch Moreland at first base would be an upgrade, whether the veteran’s balky knees can handle playing the field at this point is a valid concern to have—it may be that Berkman is strictly a designated hitter at this point.

While getting all three veteran bats into the lineup would be the ideal situation, giving the Rangers a powerful offense, Cruz is a liability in the field.

That said, it also gives Washington the option of using David Murphy as a late-inning defensive replacement, keeping his struggling bat out of the lineup for the bulk of the team’s playoff games.

Heading into the playoffs with too many outfielders and designated hitters is not a terrible problem for a team to have. As long as Cruz returns in shape, which he should be given his time in Arizona, there’s no reason for the Rangers not to play him.

Lest we forget the show that Cruz put on in the 2011 ALCS against Detroit, hitting .364/.440/1.273 with eight extra-base hits (six home runs), seven runs scored and 13 RBI in six games.

Were those numbers artificially inflated because of PEDs that Cruz obtained from Biogenesis? Maybe.

But Cruz makes Texas a better team, and the Rangers owe it to themselves, and their fans, to put the best possible team on the field once the playoffs begin.

Cruz can only help, not hurt, the team’s chances of going on a deep playoff run.

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Alex Rios is officially a Texas Ranger.

The Chicago White Sox sent their star outfielder to Texas via waivers along with $1 million for either a player to be named later or cash, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.

Rios’ addition is big news for the Rangers, as Nelson Cruz was recently suspended 50 games for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.

According to Sullivan, Rios is excited to play for a contending team once again instead of the lowly White Sox. Said Rios:  

You know what, with the situation that we were in, it wasn’t too much of a surprise. They were trying to get rid of salary or whatever they wanted to do. I think many people expected this to happen. You know what, it’s all good.

The Rangers are likely thrilled that they were able to acquire the best player available via waivers after already landing the crown jewel of the MLB trade deadline, Matt Garza.

The Rangers were tied with the Oakland Athletics for the AL West lead entering Friday night’s action, and Cruz’s absence did not bode well for the Rangers going down the stretch. However, adding Rios to the lineup for the weekend will be a huge boost.

The real question facing Texas right now is whether or not Rios will completely make up for the loss of Cruz.

Rios certainly can hit for contact on par with Cruz, and his defense is considerably better as well. However, one look at the two players’ stats will tell you that Rios lacks in the power department.

Rangers fans will be sad to see Cruz’s power out of the lineup, as he led the team in home runs and RBI this season before getting suspended. He was also second in slugging behind Adrian Beltre.

The team will now rely heavily on Beltre to be the slugger who strikes fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. He is now the only player on the team with at least 20 home runs, as he sits at 25, which is nine ahead of Mitch Moreland, who stands second on the team in the wake of Cruz’s absence.

The Rangers still have decent power throughout their lineup, however, as Beltre leads six players with double-digit home runs. Jeff Baker’s nine home runs in 44 games is also very impressive, although he hasn’t hit one since June 10.

Losing Cruz’s power certainly hurts, but the addition of Rios’ 12 dingers into the lineup is certainly an improvement over Cruz’s replacement, Craig Gentry. Gentry only has one home run this year in 64 games, so adding Rios into the mix is a huge boost.

Rios will also provide a contact-hitting outfielder who can put pressure on opposing pitchers. He won’t be the cleanup hitter for the team, but he can get things going following the heart of the order if he takes over for Cruz in the six-spot.

Here’s a look at how the team’s lineup could look with Rios in it:

This lineup would give the team a solid combination of contact hitting and speed at the top and a pretty powerful cleanup trio of Kinsler, Beltre and Pierzynski to start things off. Then comes Rios and his solid bat, and if he gets on the last third of the lineup isn’t too shabby, either.

Obviously Rios doesn’t have Cruz’s power and his contact hitting isn’t enough to make up for that. However, adding him to the mix is a good move by the Rangers, and it will solidify the lineup as the team attempts to make a push into the postseason.

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