Report: Nelson Cruz demanding 5-year deal
Nelson Cruz couldn't land a long-term deal last offseason. He might have trouble getting the contract he wants this time around, too.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported Cruz is demanding a five-year deal, and it has become a major obstacle in contract talks. Cafardo said the Baltimore Orioles, who retained Cruz on a one-year, $8-million contract last offseason, aren't interested in Cruz at that many years.
Cruz, tied to draft-pick compensation and coming off a performance-enhancing drug suspension, had to wait until February last offseason to sign. He's once again linked to compensation after the Orioles extended him a $15.3-million qualifying offer, but he figures to have better luck landing a multi-year deal.
The 34-year-old Cruz swatted a major-league-leading 40 homers and posted an .859 OPS, earning his second consecutive All-Star Game nod.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported earlier Tuesday that Cruz rejected a three-year offer from the Orioles before hitting free agency.