Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at free agents and trade candidates who, given the organization's direction, could fit with the Phillies in 2015 and beyond.
Nelson Cruz
Age: 34
2014 stats: .271/.333/.525, 40 HR, 108 RBIs for Orioles
Teams were hesitant to take a chance on a 33-year-old Nelson Cruz last winter and every single one of them paid for it. Coming off a PED bust in 2013, all Cruz did was lead the majors in homers last season with 40.
He also played in 159 games, matching a career-high. The only other season in his 10-year career Cruz played even 129 games was 2012.
The Phillies liked Cruz a year ago, but they were concerned about the suspension, his health issues and potential price tag, and instead acted quickly to sign Marlon Byrd to play right field. Byrd had a solid year, especially from a power standpoint, but he wasn't a game-changer like Cruz.
MLB
This time around, Cruz won't remain unsigned through late February as he did before the Orioles signed him to a one-year, $8 million deal. He is more in line for a four-year pact that pays close to $20 million per year. He's getting older, but since 2009 he has hit 175 homers, an average of 29 per year and 37 per 162 games. In a game that loses more and more power every year, that has serious value.
Cruz, like many of the other (domestic) free agents atop this year's market, does not fit in with what the Phillies plan to do. In fact, no outfielder in this free-agent crop stands out as a fit for the Phils. It's a bunch of thirty-somethings with little upside, guys like Nori Aoki, Melky Cabrera and Torii Hunter.
The only somewhat intriguing free-agent outfielder not named Yasmany Tomas is Colby Rasmus, and that's only because of his age (28) and position (center field). In reality, Rasmus is a .246/.313/.438 lifetime hitter who has never fully figured things out.
Don't expect the Phillies to push for Cruz or any other veteran outfielder. In fact, they're more likely to trade one away -- Jim Salisbury reported earlier this week that the Phils are listening on Byrd, Ben Revere and Domonic Brown.
Things could be different next offseason. That class, as of now, is set up to feature Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton, Austin Jackson, Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward.