A seven-time All-Star can be designated for designation.
That’s what happened to Nelson Cruz on Tuesday.
The struggling Padres designated the 43-year-old veteran for assignment on Tuesday.
The designated hitter, who signed a one-year, $1 million contract in the offseason, was batting .245 with a .283 on-base percentage.
He had five homers and 23 RBIs.
Before the Padres’ 8-5 win over the Angels, San Diego coach Bob Melvin said it was a “difficult” decision to hire Cruz, who was a respected captain on the team.
According to MLB.com, “He’s a huge influence on the club,” Melvin said. “Across the board, throughout the league, the respect he brings, playing against him from afar, it’s amazing. Comes as advertised – driving, all of the above.
“I think it’s more about diversity here now. We have two men in he and [former Yankee Matt Carpenter] This is basically just DH. We needed to be able to give some guys some days off a little bit more, we need a runner off the bench, we need more variety. So unfortunately, we had to take that step today.”
The Padres scored five runs in five innings off Shuhei Ohtani, who left the game with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand.
Otani also said that he will not be making the All-Star Game, but he is still capable of hitting.
Otani’s injury comes on the heels of Mike Trout being placed on the injured list Tuesday after he was diagnosed with a fractured femur in his left hand.
He may miss more than a month, but he expects to be back before the end of the season.
— with A.P
