Jose Cruz Jr. DFA'd by Arizona...

[HerbalK]

Jose Cruz was DFA'd today, and I noticed he can play all the OF positions and is sporting a .348 OBP right now, despite a .214 avg. Do you guys think he could be a good fit? He is a switch hitter, too, and I show that he plays pretty good defense. Any takers?

 

Diamondbacks designated outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. for assignment.

Just a bad move. Cruz, who has a 786 OPS this season, was the best center fielder on Arizona's roster, no matter what Bob Melvin thought. Putting Shawn Green in center and Chad Tracy in right is going to hurt an already shaky outfield defense. Conor Jackson better be ready to hit immediately, because he'll be another downgrade defensively. Jackson is a better hitter than Carlos Quentin right now, but if the Diamondbacks felt they had to do something, bringing up Quentin probably would have been the better idea. The defense would have suffered less.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Jose Cruz was DFA'd today, and I noticed he can play all the OF positions and is sporting a .348 OBP right now, despite a .214 avg. Do you guys think he could be a good fit? He is a switch hitter, too, and I show that he plays pretty good defense. Any takers?

 

Diamondbacks designated outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. for assignment.

Just a bad move. Cruz, who has a 786 OPS this season, was the best center fielder on Arizona's roster, no matter what Bob Melvin thought. Putting Shawn Green in center and Chad Tracy in right is going to hurt an already shaky outfield defense. Conor Jackson better be ready to hit immediately, because he'll be another downgrade defensively. Jackson is a better hitter than Carlos Quentin right now, but if the Diamondbacks felt they had to do something, bringing up Quentin probably would have been the better idea. The defense would have suffered less.

 

I noticed that too, but we already gave up Dubois for someone with the same skillset.

[YearofDaCubs]

No thanks. We have enough of low par OF.

[E.J.]

No thanks. I could see the Cards having a lot of interest in him with their outfield injuries. It'd make perfect sense they pick him up and he becomes the next Albert Pujols.

[Radar3454]

I think he will be a Yank. He has always been a favorite of mine. He has all the tools but has never put them all together.

[treebird]

i've always liked him. he'd be a good fit if we had a manager who'd use him right. so we should pass.

[rynesrevenge0206]

I think he will be a Yank. He has always been a favorite of mine. He has all the tools but has never put them all together.

 

I think he showed what he could do in 2001.

 

.273, 34 HR, 32 SB, 38 2B in 146 games.

 

Granted that would be his highest single season AVG, but hey, he did put his skills together!

[katway]

He's an excellent defensive outfielder. Had a gold glove in 2003. In addition, he was in the top 10 in walks in 2003 and 2004. He was also in the top 10 in sacrafice flies in the last 2 years. (We could really us someone who can come through with a few of those.) In any event, since he has shown some patience at the plate, has some power, above average speed, and knows how to drive runners on 3rd base home with less than 2 outs, I think he would be an excellent addition as a 4th/5th outfielder.

 

I realize we traded for Gerut (a similar type player), but he is still recovering from his knee injury and appears uncomfortable as a pitch hitter. I'd let Gerut recover in Iowa and pick up Cruz in a minute.

[Wendy City]

I would say the Stros might make a run at him - but they need an OFer that can hit. Otherwise, he's from Houston, played college ball at Rice in Houston and his dad is the 1B coach for the Astros. They do love their home-grown boys down there.

 

If they don't pull the trigger on a Dunn (doubtful) or Alou (possible) they might be able to pick Cruz up for a song - if he's still around.