Twins to Pick up Option on Veteran DH Nelson Cruz
By Chris Russo
The Minnesota Twins broke the MLB's single-season home run record in 2019, and they'll have a great opportunity to break it again with arguably their biggest slugger returning to the lineup.
As anticipated, the Twins have picked up the 2020 option on their stalwart leader Nelson Cruz.
Twins have now informed Nelson Cruz they are picking up his $12M option as it was previously reported they’d do
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 1, 2019
The $12 million option brings Cruz back as he tries to improve upon a stellar 2019 season, in which he hit .311 with a team-leading 41 home runs to go along with 108 RBI.
Last year, Cruz made it six consecutive season with 35 or more home runs, and 11 straight years with 20 or more home runs.
Most importantly, Cruz's debut season in the Twin Cities featured the team's first ALDS appearance in nine years, and his first since he played for the 2014 Baltimore Orioles.
YOUR 2019 A.L. CENTRAL CHAMPS! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/uoQmMPMWI9
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 26, 2019
Though the New York Yankees swept the Twins in the Division Series, Minnesota still proved formidable by finishing with the fourth-best record in baseball.
Cruz also brings a key clubhouse presence. After 14 years in the big leagues, he has totaled over 400 home runs and 1,100 RBI. He also was part of two pennant-winning teams as a member of the Texas Rangers.
Cruz will somehow try to raise the team's home run total of last year from 307.