With an opening for a designated hitter and a need for more power in the lineup Burch Smith Jersey , the Minnesota Twins found quite a fit on the free agent market with a six-time All-Star in Nelson Cruz. There’s a clubhouse filled with still-developing players who could use his wisdom, too.The Twins signed Cruz to a one-year, $14.3 million contract that comes with a $12 million club option for 2020, formalizing Wednesday their addition of a player whose 203 home runs over the previous five seasons are the most in the major leagues during that span.“I don’t think we view Nelson just as a DH,” Twins general manager Thad Levine said. “He’s clearly going to be occupying that spot in the lineup, but as we’ve intimated, and you’ve got to hear in his voice, what he brings to the table is so much more than that. So we did prioritize this type of offensive production. We did try to prioritize this type of quality of character and leadership.”Cruz, who will turn 39 on July 1, batted .256 with 37 homers, 97 RBIs and a .342 on-base percentage in 2018 for Seattle. He hit a career-high 40 homers in 2014 in a one-year stop in Baltimore, after an eight-season run with Texas. Over the last five years, Cruz has played in an average of 153 games.Cruz served a 50-game suspension in 2013 for violating the major league drug agreement in relation to the sport’s investigation of the Biogenesis of America clinic. The Twins are still eager to rely on his production and mentorship in a youthful clubhouse.“I know my body. I know what I need to do to stay healthy first, you know? And what I do on a daily basis to prepare myself to be successful on the field, that’s the biggest difference Blaine Boyer Jersey ,” said Cruz, who added he would be “very proud” to play in the outfield, where Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler are set at the corner positions. He’s only played there nine times over the previous two seasons.The Twins signed Logan Morrison last year for $6.5 million to serve as the primary designated hitter, but coming off a career-high 38-homer season, he struggled badly and eventually had hip surgery that shelved him in mid-August with a .186 batting average.Morrison, who wound up playing more than expected at first base while Joe Mauer recovered from a concussion, took 35 turns as the DH. He took a $1 million buyout and became a free agent. Mauer, who retired , had 33 starts. Robbie Grossman, who was not offered a contract and became a free agent, was the DH 36 times.With 360 career home runs, Cruz is fourth on the active list behind Albert Pujols (633), Miguel Cabrera (465) and Edwin Encarnacion (380). He will earn $14 million in 2019, and if the Twins were to decide to decline the $12 million option for next year, they would owe him a $300 Trevor Cahill Jersey ,000 buyout.By signing second baseman Jonathan Schoop and claiming first baseman C.J. Cron off waivers, the Twins have added 88 homers to their lineup after finishing 23rd in the majors with 166 last season.“I could not be more excited. Last year when I went to Minnesota, I was thinking ahead, ‘This should be a good fit for me, a team that has really good young guys with a lot of talent,'” Cruz said on a conference call with reporters.MCruz’s most important relationship in Minnesota may be with third baseman and fellow Dominican Republic native Miguel Sano, a slugger long groomed to be a franchise cornerstone who regressed so much in 2018 he was sent to the minor leagues for six weeks of holistic reconditioning, from his swing to his attitude to his diet.“I naturally am always ready to help and willing to help,” Cruz said, “and he expressed that. He told me, ‘I want to learn how to be part of good teams.'”Schoop helped recruit Cruz, his teammate in Baltimore in 2014. Cruz is in the position that seven-time All-Star second baseman Michael Young held with Texas as the mentor of that team while Cruz was an up-and-comer.“He’s going to set a wonderful example in the way that he prepares for games and just being the person he is,” new manager Rocco Baldelli said. “That alone is going to be an asset for us going forward.” MILWAUKEE — A week after Gio Gonzalez was acquired from the Washington Nationals, the veteran left-hander will make his Milwaukee Brewers debut Saturday when he takes the mound against the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park.Gonzalez has looked little like the pitcher who finished in the top 10 of National League Cy Young voting a year ago. In 27 starts for the Nationals, he was 7-11 with a 4.57 ERA and had just one victory since May 28.The Brewers still had an interest Melky Cabrera Jersey , hoping he could provide depth down the stretch — as well as a left-handed starting option — as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.Article continues below ...“We acquired him to have another good pitcher and because you don’t know what’s going to happen in this month,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s his turn to go help us try to win a game.”Gonzalez hasn’t pitched in a game since Aug. 29, when he allowed six runs in five innings but took a no-decision as the Nationals fell to the Phillies. He will have 10 days off before returning to action Saturday but isn’t worried about any kind of rust factor.He also has used the downtime to his advantage, working extensively with Brewers pitching coach Derek Johnson.“I don’t want to use any excuses,” Gonzalez said. “The way I see it is just give me the ball and I’m going to try and give you 100 percent of my talent. I’ll take the ball, make my pitches and try to get some outs. Rely on my defense and rely on our offense.“Hopefully, I can keep us in the game.”Gonzalez is 5-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 14 career starts against the Giants, including an 0-1 record and 7.56 ERA in two starts this season.He will face a lineup likely to be without shortstop Brandon Crawford, who was held out of Bruce Bochy’s starting lineup for a second straight day on Friday because of a sore knee that kept him out of three games last week as well.Bochy started switch-hitting Alen Hanson at short in the series opener and said he’ll give right-hander Abiatal Avelino the nod Saturday against Gonzalez.Right-hander Chris Stratton takes the mound against the Brewers, who tagged him for three runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief back earlier this season.Stratton took the loss his last time out despite holding the Mets to two runs in six innings but is 1-1 with a 1.77 ERA in his last three starts.He’s part of a group that has posted the third-best ERA in baseball since June 1 (3.37 heading into the series) but has been stymied by an offense that has struggled to generate runs.“They give us a chance, but you see the numbers; it’s just been tough since June 1 with the offense,” Bochy said. “A couple of guys getting hot, driving in runs, that’s what we’re missing.“Somebody’s got to do that for you to win ballgames. That’s what we’re missing.”