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3 potential landing spots: Nelson Cruz

Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Few free agents wield the impact potential of Nelson Cruz, who's looking for a lucrative, long-term deal this winter after enjoying the finest season of his career in 2014. His name hasn't surfaced as frequently in rumors as some of his fellow free agents, but Cruz is sure to generate interest among numerous teams eager to infuse some power into their lineup.

Here are three likely landing spots for the three-time All-Star:

Baltimore Orioles

Cruz accomplished in 2014 precisely what he hoped for when he inked a one-year, $8-million deal with the Orioles last winter, eager to restore the value that plummeted after he incurred a 50-game suspension for his role in the Biogenesis scandal. The 34-year-old clobbered a career-high 40 home runs over 159 games as an integral component of a prolific offense that led the major leagues in round-trippers and trumped all American League teams in isolated power.

Though Cruz is reportedly seeking a four-year deal this winter, the lack of progress in extension talks between the Orioles and Nick Markakis, another free agent, suggests the club's top offseason priority may be re-signing Cruz. Regression is almost certain for Cruz - his battled-ball distance actually dwindled in 2014 and he managed just a .769 OPS after the All-Star break - but the Orioles will likely try to lock up the veteran, whose powerful bat lifted the franchise to its first division title since 1997.

Kansas City Royals

Despite coming within one win of a World Series championship, the Royals' anemic lineup produced a mere 95 home runs in 2014, easily the lowest mark in the major leagues. Content to slap singles and manufacture runs, the Royals also managed the worst isolated power in the majors and were one of just four clubs without a player to reach the 20-homer plateau.

The Royals also have vacancies to address in both the outfield and at the designated hitter spot, as Billy Butler recently finalized a three-year deal with the Oakland Athletics and Nori Aoki is poised to sign elsewhere as a free agent. Though not often praised for their financial clout, the Royals have just $50 million committed towards next year's payroll (before calculating arbitration raises), and the impending departure of James Shields should also create some financial flexibility for general manager Dayton Moore.

Toronto Blue Jays

The lineup John Gibbons trots out in 2015 won't really resemble the one that managed the fourth-best on-base plus slugging in the majors last season, as the Blue Jays traded Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month and are likely to lose Melky Cabrera to free agency. With no appealing options within the organization to replace Cabrera, the Blue Jays could be tempted to pursue Cruz, who boasts a career .521 slugging percentage in 32 games at Rogers Centre.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos defied his reputation earlier this week when he handed an $82-million deal to 31-year-old catcher Russell Martin, a development that suggests he's eager to capitalize on a competitive window likely to close shortly. Cruz's presence, meanwhile, would afford the Blue Jays one of baseball's most formidable offenses, as he would join Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in the middle of Toronto's lineup.

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