Tampa Bay Rays acquire slugger Nelson Cruz in four-player trade with Minnesota Twins

Cruz, 41, is a seven-time All-Star with 436 career homers and 1,202 RBIs. Cheap 81 Ryan Thompson MLB Jerseys, He’ll bring some needed pop to Tampa Bay’s lineup and should help the Rays against left-handers Cheap Tampa Bay Rays MLB Jerseys, . They’re hitting Cheap MLB Jerseys Free Shipping, .226 versus lefti Buy MLB Jerseys Free Shipping, es.

Following Tampa Bay’s 5-4 comeback win over the Indians, Rays manager Kevin Cash said he was thrilled to be adding someone of Cruz’s caliber.

“It’s very exciting,” said Cash, who recently managed Cruz in the All-Star Game at Denver. “We’re a good team and we know we just got better by adding Nelson Cruz, one of the hottest bats out there. His presence. His leadership. I’ve known him for a long time now, and you never hear anyone say a negative thing about him, so we’re adding a high-quality hitter and a high-quality person.”

Cash wasn’t exactly sure when Cruz would join the Rays.

Beyond his skills at the plate, Cruz gives Tampa Bay a seasoned player with years of knowledge.

“We’re going to allow him to go out and do what he does,” said Cash, who will have to juggle his roster to make sure Cruz is usually in the lineup. “He’s going to DH and hopefully man that position for three months.”

With Cruz out of the lineup, the Twins fell 3-2 to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.

“I think the whole team had a consensus of being a little sad to hear the news,” Twins starter Kenta Maeda said through his translator. “I think that’s where we were as a team today before the game.”

First baseman Miguel Sano paid tribute by wearing his friend’s game pants.

“They both wear pretty good-sized pants, so to the eye, I could not tell any difference. But I bet it meant a lot to Miguel to be doing that, and probably Nellie, too,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.

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