The Texas Rangers will likely make a qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told Evan P. Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Rangers expected to make Nelson Cruz a qualifying offer
The Rangers would receive draft pick compensation if Cruz declines their qualifying offer and signs with another team.
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The qualifying offer is a one-year contract worth the average of the top 125 contracts in baseball. A player can decline the offer and seek out a longer deal in free agency. If a player declines the qualifying offer and signs with a new team in the off-season, his former team will receive draft pick compensation.
Daniels discussed the issue with Grant, telling the reporter:
“We’re going to need corner run production. We’re going to need power. Obviously, Nellie’s been a source of that here for the last few years. The first order of business we’ll have to decide is whether we extend the qualifying offer to him. I would expect we will.”
Texas is expected to meet with Cruz next week. The team has until five days after the World Series to tender Cruz a qualifying offer, then he will have a week to decide whether he wants to sign it.
Cruz hit well this season, batting .266/.327/.506 with 27 homers and 76 RBI in 456 plate appearances. He also served a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball for violating the league’s Joint Drug Agreement.
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