PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Oh it will drive some people nuts and it could be a risk that financially straps the franchise, but it’s time for the Pirates to sign Oneil Cruz to a long-term contract.
As the franchise hopefully makes a push to improve talent during the Paul Skenes era, it needs to lock up a player they would have no chance to afford in free agency or even likely in a trade. They found a gem in a July trade with the Dodgers in 2017. As much as reliever Tony Watson was a valuable player, it’s just the kind of move they needed to make.
It took time to move through the system, but you could see the potential throughout his minor league career. He was doing things that no other Pirates prospect was doing. He still is.
It’s halfway through the season and Cruz is on pace for 30 home runs and already has a career high with 28 stolen bases. They can’t find that. Pirates brass doesn’t have to, they have it. Lock him in.
It doesn’t mean Cruz doesn’t have issues. The average, which never likely be high, is just .204 this season with an on-base percentage of .313. It needs to improve. Strikeouts, there will be strikeouts, Willie Stargell led the league in strikeouts while hitting 48 home runs on season.
His defense appears to be improving. It’s his first full season in centerfield. There was the lack of hustle on a ball he charged and missed last month. That probably first comes to mind for a lot of fans. He will do that again. He’s not Joe hustle, never will be. Several other great players over the course of history weren’t about hustle on every play, but were difference makers. Cruz is taking better routes, starting to understand the position. Remember, he had never played centerfield until late last year. He’s learning against the best of the best with Bryan Reynolds and a carousel of other outfielders.
His 105 mile-an-hour assist was a seed that would stand up to some of the great throws in Pirates history. There will be more of that too.
Oneil Cruz will never be a player you want your kids to emulate, that’s fine none of your kids can do what Cruz can do. Similar things were said of Hall of Famer Dave Parker, but the Pirates won division titles and championships because of his elite talent.
Cruz has elite talent. Paul Skenes needs help, Cruz provides that help.
Let’s talk money. It’s a guess of a guess, but what about five years, $110 million. It makes him the highest paid Pirates player. It buys out three years of arbitration and gives the Pirates two years of control. He gets life-changing money and is still just 31 years-old when the contract ends.
It’s a risk. There is no guarantee Cruz will improve, but just watch him. If you want to give the Pirates and Skenes the best chance to win, locking up Oneil Cruz is a big step.