The Washington Nationals signed free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz to a one-year, $15 million contract on Sunday, including a $3 million buyout on mutual option. With the National League having a full-time DH, teams such as the Dodgers, Padres, Brewers and Braves were also interested in acquiring the Boomstick. He ultimately landed in Washington and will most likely hit cleanup as the team's everyday designated hitter. Cruz blasted 32 homers and drove in 86 runs over 140 games between the Rays and Twins last season. The 41-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down and will provide a dynamic one-two punch with Nationals superstar Juan Soto.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals appear to be the finalists for the services of free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz. American League teams are also lurking, but the Dodgers and Padres have been pegged as the favorites. Now that the NL has a full-time DH, Cruz's market has doubled this offseason. The 41-year-old did struggle down the stretch last year for the Tampa Bay Rays, but he finished with 32 home runs and 86 RBI in 140 total games with the Rays and Minnesota Twins. The seven-time All-Star is no longer in the prime of his career, but he can still provide useful power for fantasy managers, and joining the powerful lineups of either the Dodgers or the Padres would make him even more appealing.

The San Diego Padres are one of many teams in on free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz, who is expected to make his decision this weekend. Padres general manager AJ Preller has the connection to Cruz from their time with the Texas Rangers, where Cruz became a star. Almost all contending teams in the National League are in on Cruz, including the Milwaukee Brewers, his first big-league stop 17 years ago. As many as eight teams are interested in signing the veteran slugger. Cruz is 41 years old, but he remains a solid source of power after crushing 32 home runs and drove in 86 in 140 games with the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. His power bat would fit in nicely in a loaded lineup in San Diego.

Free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz is finalizing details for a new deal with a National League team, according to a source. With the DH now in play in the National League, the most coveted DH in free agency has a bigger market now that free agency has reopened. Cruz has spent the last 17 seasons in the American League, so this will be a change for the Boomstick. The 41-year-old just hasn't slowed down, as he hit 32 home runs in 513 plate appearances with the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. Cruz will eventually slow down, but his elite power isn't quite gone just yet, so fantasy managers should continue to target him as a low-cost power bat in drafts this spring.

Many National League teams are pursuing free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz with the perception being that there will be a universal DH next year whenever a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is done. The 41-year-old continues to defy Father Time and made his seventh All-Star team while slashing .265/.334/.497 with 32 home runs, 86 RBI and 79 runs scored in 584 plate appearances over 140 games for the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. Although he did have 13 home runs in 238 plate appearances after being traded to Tampa, Cruz wasn't as productive in 55 games for the Rays, slashing only .226/.283/.442 with a .725 OPS. Staying at DH has kept Cruz healthy and productive late in his career, and he's hit 73 combined HRs in the last two seasons.

Tampa Bay Rays 41-year-old designated hitter Nelson Cruz told reporters last week that he plans to continue his career after this season. He is set be a free agent for the second straight offseason after the 2021 postseason concludes. Last offseason, he signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, who traded him to the Rays in July. Cruz showed no signs of aging at the plate this year. Over 140 games, he slashed .265/.334/.497 with 32 home runs, 86 RBI and 79 runs. He ranked in the 94th percentile in hard-hit rate (52.5%) and in the 93rd percentile in average exit velocity (92.9 mph).

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Game 1 of the American League Division Series 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox. He launched a towering blast off the catwalk to give the Rays a 3-0 lead. The 41-year-old became the second-oldest player to homer in a postseason game, only trailing Julio Franco, who hit two at the age of 43. Cruz is batting .287 with 18 home runs, 38 RBI, and 34 runs scored over 47 career postseason games.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during Friday's 4-3 win over the New York Yankees. In the top of the first inning, the 41-year-old blasted a solo shot off Nestor Cortes to give the Rays an early lead 1-0. It was his 32nd long ball of the season. "The Boomstick" is slashing .266/.336/.502 with 32 home runs, 86 RBI, 79 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 571 plate appearances in 2021. Cruz is one of the most consistent hitters in MLB and should be a middle-round pick in next season's drafts.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz was left out of the starting lineup for the second straight day on Wednesday. He is currently feeling "under the weather," according to Rays manager Kevin Cash. Austin Meadows went on to draw his second consecutive start at designated hitter for the Wednesday's game. Cash said that Cruz would be available off the bench if needed for the game. The Rays are off on Thursday, so it seems likely that Cruz will be able to return to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Miami Marlins. The 41-year-old veteran has been has been hitting well in September with a .294/.351/.559 slash line and five home runs.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (forearm) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. He exited Thursday's game early after being hit in the forearm by a pitch. The 41-year-old's x-rays came back negative, and he's considered day-to-day. According to manager Keith Cash, Cruz will be available off the bench. Jordan Luplow will handle designated hitter duties and is batting fifth in Saturday's game. He can be avoided being used as a streamer against southpaw Tarik Skubal after hitting .155 with four home runs, eight RBI, and a .637 OPS over 102 plate appearances against left-handers in 2021.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz isn't in the lineup on Friday. The Rays will take on the Detroit Tigers and right-handed starter Casey Mize but will do so with one of their best hitters on the bench. Cruz is hitting .273 with a .343 on-base percentage, 31 home runs, and three stolen bases in 539 plate appearances this season. Austin Meadows, who generally starts in the outfield, is hitting fourth and starting at designated hitter against Detroit. It'll be Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, and Brett Phillips starting from left to right in the outfield on Friday. Phillips could be worth a look as a streaming option for managers in deeper leagues where on-base percentage is part of the scoring. In 265 plate appearances this season, the 27-year-old is batting .214 with a .312 on-base percentage, 12 home runs, and 14 stolen bases. Phillips is hitting seventh against the Tigers on Friday.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, one walk, and an additional run scored during Sunday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Boomstick put the Rays on the board with a solo shot off Jose Urena in the fourth inning. He extended his hitting streak to nine games and is hitting a robust .391 (16-for-41) with five home runs during that span. Overall, Cruz is slashing .278/.347/.530 with 31 home runs, 83 RBI, 76 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 521 plate appearances in 2021. Fantasy managers should continue to start Cruz while he's wielding a hot bat right in time for the fantasy baseball playoffs.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 4-for-5 with two homers, a double, three runs scored and four RBI during a 12-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. The 41-year-old connected off of Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez during the third inning for a two-run blast and off of relief pitcher Michael Feliz for a solo shot during the fifth inning. Cruz now has 30 HR, 81 RBI, 72 R, and three steals to go with a .275/.345/.528 line over 443 at-bats on the year. The seven-time All-Star has now hit 30-plus homers in seven straight seasons, excluding the abbreviated 2020 campaign. Fantasy managers who have sacrificed the flexibility of a utility spot, have been rewarded with another vintage season from the timeless Cruz.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 3-for-6 with a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored during Monday's 11-10 extra-inning win over the Boston Red Sox. He belted a solo shot off Adam Ottavino in the eighth inning to bring the Rays to within one run. The boomstick smacked a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th frame and drove in three runs altogether in Monday's win. It could have been even more of a massive day for Cruz if the original ruling on a fly ball that bounced off Red outfielder Alex Verdugo's glove in the fourth inning wasn't changed from a three-run triple to an error. Cruz is having another productive season in 2021, slashing .269/.340/.509 with 28 home runs, 77 RBI, and 69 runs scored across 120 games.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk, and an additional run scored during Saturday's 11-4 win over the Minnesota Twins. He blasted a solo shot in the fourth inning for his 27th long ball of the season. The Boomstick is hitting .206 (27-for-131) with eight home runs, 23 RBI, and 21 runs scored over 34 games since being acquired by the Rays in July. Overall, Cruz is slashing .267/.340/.506 with 27 home runs, 73 RBI, 65 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 486 plate appearances in 2021. Despite his recent struggles at the plate, the 41-year-old remains a strong option in all league formats.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz isn't starting on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-handed starter Zack Wheeler. With no designated hitter, Cruz started at first base in Philadelphia on Tuesday. However, he'll begin tonight's game on the bench. Yandy Diaz is starting at first base and batting sixth against Wheeler and the Phillies. Diaz is worth a look as a streaming option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues where on-base percentage is part of the scoring. In 420 plate appearances this season, the infielder is batting .252 with a .360 on-base percentage and nine home runs.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 with two RBI during Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning to give the Rays a 3-1 lead. It was his 17th double of the season. The 41-year-old was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and made his first career start at first base on Tuesday. Cruz continues to produce in 2021, slashing .275/.347/.520 with 26 home runs, 70 RBI, 59 runs scored, and three stolen bases over 452 plate appearances. Rays' first baseman Ji-Man Choi (hamstring), was placed on the injured list Tuesday; Cruz could gain eligibility at the cornerstone in some league formats.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (COVID-19) is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday to start a two-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Cruz was placed on the COVD-19 injured list on Sunday but has since tested negative and has been cleared to rejoin the team. The Tampa Bay Times reported Cruz could potentially make his debut at first base for the interleague series with the Phillies. His return is great news for fantasy managers given the 41-year-old veteran slugger is slashing .270/.344/.515 this season with 26 home runs, 68 RBI, three stolen bases, and 59 runs scored on 106 hits.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz was placed on the COVID-19 injured list, according to the Athletic. Austin Meadows is at DH Sunday against the Chicago White Sox and Brett Phillips is in right field. The 41-year-old Cruz hasn't shown signs of slowing down, slashing .270/.344/.515 in 2021. Check back for further updates on his condition. The Rays and fantasy managers will be hoping for a quick recovery from the reliable veteran, who has 26 home runs and 68 RBI this season.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 2-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI during Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles. He belted a three-run homer in the fifth inning and two-run home run in the sixth frame to plate five runs in Tuesday's win. The Boomstick has now homered seven times since being acquired by the Rays in mid-July. Tampa Bay is averaging 6.65 runs per game since adding Cruz to their lineup. The 41-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, slashing 273/.347/.528 line with 57 runs scored and 66 RBI across 433 plate appearances.