Nelson Cruz Rumors: Early Offseason Suitors for Rangers Slugger

Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz has been a major part of the Rangers' success since becoming an everyday player in 2009. He's brought home at least 70 runners in each season since 2009, including highs of 87 and 90 RBI in 2011 and 2012.  He's also contributed at least 22 home runs from 2009 to 2013. 

However, the 33-year-old slugger has reached the end of his contract in Texas and will have the opportunity to test the waters of MLB free agency during the offseason. That's assuming his beloved Rangers don't snatch him up first. 

Though Cruz has had success in the major leagues, he was forced to serve a 50-game suspension toward the end of the regular season for using performance-enhancing drugs, which may explain why there aren't that many names in the running for the Ranger.

Here are Cruz's major suitors so far.  

Philadelphia Phillies

According to Jon Heyman at CBSSports.com, the Philadelphia Phillies are interested in bringing the right fielder to the City of Brotherly Love. Heyman reports that the Phillies are interested in Cruz, along with a few other veteran outfielders, as a way to bolster their lineup. 

With names like Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, the Phils are pretty set on the mound. They also boast a veteran infield, including elder statesmen Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. As the Phillies continue to fight their way back into the upper echelon of the National League, adding a veteran bat like Cruz to the lineup would be a great move for a club that was 21st in the league in both batting average and slugging percentage and was just 26th in runs scored. 

Cruz will have to compete with other veteran outfielders that Heyman mentioned, which included Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo.

Texas Rangers

Another big player in the early race for Nelson Cruz is the Texas Rangers. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, The Rangers are looking to bring the slugger back to Texas in 2014. Grant says that the Rangers plan to make a $14.1 million qualifying offer to Cruz as part of a one-year deal. This would give the Rangers a draft pick in compensation if Cruz decides to leave the team that he's been with since 2006. 

According to Grant, Rangers GM Joe Daniels had this to say on the topic:

"

It’s a relatively easy decision. We’d be happy to have him back on a one-year deal. And we’re not prohibited from continuing to talk to him while he sees what the market is. If he signs elsewhere, we get a draft pick that helps us as well.

"

While Cruz has reportedly expressed interest in returning to the club, according to Michael Florek of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers already rejected a four-year, $56 million offer last year, which shows that the power hitter is looking for something a bit more substantial than a one-year deal. 

The Rangers have until Nov. 4 to extend the offer, giving Cruz one week to make a decision.