Padres News: Nelson Cruz DFA'd Among Slew of Roster Moves by Friars

The 43-year-old has been in the league since 2005.

The Padres designated designated hitter Nelson Cruz for assignment Tuesday among many other roster moves. 

Cruz, who turned 43 a few days ago, had been averaging .245/.283/.399 and only hit 5 home runs and 23 RBI in 49 games.

Nelson Cruz has been DFA’d.

Lots of other moves. But that’s the big one. Wow.

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) July 4, 2023

Cruz had been playing on a one-year, $1 million contract and will now spend seven days in a holding pattern during which the Padres can trade him away or place him on waivers.

In corresponding moves, the Padres recalled LHP José Castillo, RHP Matt Waldron and infielder Matthew Batten from Triple-A while optioning RHP Domingo Tapia to Triple-A. Starting pitcher Michael Wacha was played on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. 

Manager Bob Melvin had high praises for the veteran player, but ultimately decided that Cruz lacked a versatility necessary to contribute to the Padres' tall task of climbing back into the playoff conversation.

"Obviously a tough one," manager Bob Melvin said of the decision to DFA Cruz. "Big impact in the clubhouse. Across the board throughout the league the respect that he brings, looking at him, playing against him from afar, he's fantastic ... It's more about versatility here now. We have a couple guys in [Cruz] and [Matt Carpenter] that basically just DH, need to be able to give guys some days off a little bit more, need a runner off the bench, you need to have a little bit more versatility so unfortunately we had to make this move today."

(Via 97.3 The Fan)

Melvin stated that he was sure another team would pick Cruz up given his value as a veteran leader. Playing his rookie season for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cruz spent a majority of his young career as a Ranger before pitstops in Baltimore, Seattle, Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C.