O'Neil Cruz

[Brewcrew82]

Obviously on the surface a .676 OPS with a 32% K rate and average (OAA) to terrible (DRS) defensive metrics in the OF is straight up frightening.

However: what if:

1) the Brewers move him from the OF to 3B, where his bazooka arm plays and the range issues he experienced at SS stemming from his size are minimized. 

2) the Brewers eliminate his exposure against LHP (Career .560 OPS vs. .795 OPS against RHP) by platooning him with Durbin and co. while letting his surface stats regress back towards his underlying metrics (.333 xWOBA) and 2024 numbers (.773 OPS)

All of a sudden, you add gargantuan power to a lineup that was relatively lacking in it and have a pretty seamless fit in terms of the lineup's existing speed (38 SBs) and patience (12 BB%) dynamic (though the Ks will always remain an issue). You then have the option of trading him in a year or two once Made, Pratt, and/or Pena have entered the picture. 

Bottom line is I would be shocked if the Pirates weren't open to a trade even with him entering arbitration and their "competitive" window remaining far into the future, even with Skenes. They're also going to have the top prospect in baseball in Konnor Griffin coming up in short order to replace Cruz's skillset. 

[tmwiese55]

I think I mentioned him at some point in the season as a buy low.    The keys to if MKE is up for it would be their assessment on if he can play 3B to at least an avg level.   No way they'd use him at SS or CF as of now.   And second, if they think his mental lapses and focus will improve once he's in a better team winning environment than the mess that is Pit.  You'd probably need someone with a personal relationship with him to really know on that one. 

[Brewcrew82]

4 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

I think I mentioned him at some point in the season as a buy low.    The keys to if MKE is up for it would be their assessment on if he can play 3B to at least an avg level.   No way they'd use him at SS or CF as of now.   And second, if they think his mental lapses and focus will improve once he's in a better team winning environment than the mess that is Pit.  You'd probably need someone with a personal relationship with him to really know on that one. 

True. I think what might push the Brewers in favor of taking the chance is the strong culture they've developed in the clubhouse, specifically with their Latino players. Could easily see guys like Peralta (assuming he's still here), Conteras, Chourio, etc. taking him under their wing and him being rejuvenated by playing for a winning ballclub. 

[BrewerFan]

I'd be fine taking a chance on him to play CF or 3B.

I thought his issue was as much with his arm(erratic) than his range at SS, but this is a guy who will have that breakout season at some point. He'll hit 35-40 HRs and just carry a team... I would think. Maybe not, maybe I'm wrong, but he just hits the ball SO hard and he walks. 

This seems like a bit of a wild idea when looking at actual performance and it seemed like it during the season, but... this are the types of players you take a chance on. The potential return is just massive. I thought he'd signed an extension... but I must have been confusing him with their 3B. 

 

Still, dude hits piss missiles, walks and there's WAY too much athletic ability there for him to not turn into a good CFer with more time, so even if they don't believe in his ability at 3B, he only moved to CF last year. 

 

The question is, what are you giving up? I have just no idea where you'd start and if I was the Pirates, I would hold onto him until he has that breakout(but that's the same reason I'm on board with trading for him).

I would think it'd cost. Luke Adams+ a guy like Tyson Hardin? I don't like giving up either of those players, but I don't like trading any prospects and I may be way off. 

 

The ONE area I'd disagree with;

Quote

Bottom line is I would be shocked if the Pirates weren't open to a trade even with him entering arbitration and their "competitive" window remaining far into the future, even with Skenes. They're also going to have the top prospect in baseball in Konnor Griffin coming up in short order to replace Cruz's skillset. 

I don't know this is true.

They'll have Skenes, Jared Jones back, Bubba Chandler, they have a Hunter Blanco, Mike Burrows and Keller to round out their rotation.

That's a really good 1-3. Really elite stuff. So the pitching should be good.

Offensively there are some holes, but Byran Reynolds is a good player(terrible start to the year). 
Cruz has that upside. They have some bats and I don't have any confidence in them trying to really address that, but I think they'll be a .500+ team next year. They'll need everything to go right, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the same position the Reds were this year(they should also have very good SPing). 

[TURBO]

The Pirates also have 2 studs offensively just knocking on the door!

Esmerlyn Valdez SHOULD get to the majors in 2026, and probably should have come up in September of 2025.  This kid is going to be a menace to us for a decade!

Konnor Griffin is the other one, not sure how close he is, but they do have some offense on the way too!

[StearnsFTW]

I'd take a shot if the price is right.  No idea what the price would be 

[SF70]

No thanks.

Too much risk with his past non-hustling play. Yes he plays for a terrible team and moving positions in-season not ideal, but once a problem always another potential future problem.

 

 

[nate82]

2 hours ago, SF70 said:

No thanks.

Too much risk with his past non-hustling play. Yes he plays for a terrible team and moving positions in-season not ideal, but once a problem always another potential future problem.

 

 

Carlos Gomez was considered a problem player and he turned out to be not a problem.

Carlos Gomez is probably a good comparison to Cruz.  I am not sure 3B is a good place to put Cruz defensively.  Probably the best spot is LF or DH.  

[Scooterfletcher]

5 hours ago, StearnsFTW said:

I'd take a shot if the price is right.  No idea what the price would be 

I tend to never get excited about inter-division teams players, as it’s just too rare imo to even discuss at any sort of length.   Makes no sense but seems unlikely we’d be the “winning team “ of a Cruz trade if he’s out there this winter.

[SF70]

8 hours ago, nate82 said:

Carlos Gomez was considered a problem player and he turned out to be not a problem.

Carlos Gomez is probably a good comparison to Cruz.  I am not sure 3B is a good place to put Cruz defensively.  Probably the best spot is LF or DH.  

Two different humans.

Players that don’t hustle after balls put in play — and multiple times, I don’t want on my team — ever. Anti-Brewers culture player.

[Brian]

2 hours ago, SF70 said:

Players that don’t hustle after balls put in play — and multiple times, I don’t want on my team — ever. Anti-Brewers culture player.

Not only that but .... the last thing the Brewers need is a low .200's avg hitter.  We need a productive bat and that is not O'Neil Cruz. 

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, Brian said:

Not only that but .... the last thing the Brewers need is a low .200's avg hitter.  We need a productive bat and that is not O'Neil Cruz. 

...and, he's a whiff machine.

Nothing about this guy fits our needs or profile.

[jay87shot]

I doubt the Pirates would give him away for the price I would want to pay (like 2 prospects in the 20-30 range max). The Pirates offense stinks and Cruz is one of the only guys with any potential and he is still cheap. I wouldnt mind even trying Cruz at 1B (athletic and 6'7") and make him a utility style player with LF, 3B, and 1B. However I can't see the trade value or in division trade working. I wouldnt mind taking the risk and have him play with good leaders and a manager who will get him closer to his max potential (like we saw with Vaughn).

[Brewcrew82]

On 11/1/2025 at 9:12 AM, TURBO said:

...and, he's a whiff machine.

Nothing about this guy fits our needs or profile.

Power is kind of a need?

[TURBO]

5 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Power is kind of a need?

Ok, but is the trade-off worth it?  Can we find power elsewhere that doesn't involve a lazy baseball player, who is pretty poor defensively, and who strikes out a TON?  Add in the fact that he belongs to an inter-division rival, making it even more difficult to pry him away.

I mean, he's a .200 hitting 20 HR guy.

I'd hope we can do better, he just doesn't fit our profile.

[Brewcrew82]

33 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Ok, but is the trade-off worth it?  Can we find power elsewhere that doesn't involve a lazy baseball player, who is pretty poor defensively, and who strikes out a TON?  Add in the fact that he belongs to an inter-division rival, making it even more difficult to pry him away.

I mean, he's a .200 hitting 20 HR guy.

I'd hope we can do better, he just doesn't fit our profile.

Sure, but every percentage that BA goes up you’re paying even more….Guys who have power like Cruz AND make consistent contact are way out of the Brewers’ price range. So Brewers have little choice but to think out of the box like this.

Cruz was also quite unlucky this year. His xwOBA indicates he’s much closer to the guy who put up a .775 OPS in 2024. 

[yfinn6]

Maybe Cruz will "try harder" when he's on a team that is trying to win rather than just going through the motions like the Pirates have been doing. 

[Roderick]

On 10/30/2025 at 2:30 PM, Brewcrew82 said:

Bottom line is I would be shocked if the Pirates weren't open to a trade even with him entering arbitration and their "competitive" window remaining far into the future, even with Skenes

I don't see them trading an everyday player without getting an everyday player back.  They need to start showing the fans that they are committed to winning sooner than later, and trading back for prospects would not be a good look (even if the prospects were good). 

Plus, I assume they will not want to drop the payroll, as they will want to show that they have been using the luxury tax money they get and not just keeping it in the owners pocket with negotiations coming up.

They aren't that far away from the planets aligning and they get a .500 season.  Last year they just happened to be in the toughest division in the NL.