Well, it can't come as much of a surprise -- Jose Cruz Jr. is back on the west coast, this time in the orange and black of the San Francisco Giants. Cruz signed a one-year major-league deal worth $2.8 million, plus an option.
The salary is roughly 60% of what Jose would have likely gotten had the Jays offered him arbitration, but he has to like the other perks: natural grass, contending ballclub, and hitting anywhere near the Barry Zone -- all of these should be beneficial. He should really solidify their outfield defence too. Nonetheless, he's moving to a pretty extreme pitcher's park, and we shouldn't expect his numbers to be outstanding, especially not against the pitching in the NL West.
Give credit to Brian Sabean -- he wouldn't give the Jays what they wanted, refusing to surrender a pitching prospect at the deadline. As a result, he gets the player he wanted for nothing in exchange, not even a draft pick -- and at a lower price, since had he acquired Cruz last summer, the Giants would have been the ones on the hook for that arbitration payday. He also outwaited the Orioles, who dated Cruz briefly before deciding to pass. Sabean makes his blunders -- step forward, Neifi Perez -- but he acquitted himself well here.
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