Orioles, Nelson Cruz have deal

[JonLP24]

The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with free agent slugger Nelson Cruz, ESPN and multiple media outlets are reporting.

A source told ESPNdeportes.com that Cruz's deal also includes $750,000 in incentives. If the deal is completed, Cruz would become the Orioles' primary designated hitter

Cruz, 33, is one of several free agents whose signability has been hurt this offseason because they turned down qualifying offers from their previous teams, meaning the club signing them would lose a top draft pick.

However, the Orioles surrendered their first-round pick earlier this week when they signed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. So signing Cruz would only cost Baltimore a second-round pick -- the 55th overall choice in the 2014 draft.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10500852/baltimore-orioles-nelson-cruz-agree-contract

[hughee99]

1. At 1 year/$8 million, it's a very good signing for Baltimore.

If he has a good year, though, he probably won't be back in Baltimore in 2015.