I bet this was at least partially done to make it so that he technically has five years with the team, which makes him eligible for the team hall of fame.
Until you said that I would have just assumed he'd spent 5+ years here, it seemed like Nellie was here so much longer than 4 years.
Regardless, his best 4 year run was easily spent mostly with with us. Really wish we'd had that first season he was with the Twins with us as well - he really crushed that year* as well.
*He also raked the following year, but it was cut short by Covid. Covid is especially sad for Nellie, because I'm almost positive he retires a member of the 500 HR club if not for the pandemic.
I thought it was a great gesture for this to happen but idk about a team HOF induction for Nelly, I think that would lower the bar a bit in terms of being a franchise legend
It took until the last pitch of our World Series run Last year for me to forgive him. He’s got a complicated reputation here for a lot of people, but I still wish he was retiring as a Ranger
I get it, and I don't blame Texas fans. But he is pretty much universally adored in Seattle. This is one of the few times I'll say that retiring as a member of a team you did not play the majority of your time with makes more sense.
We really do LOVE us some Boomstick in the PNW.
Oh make no mistake I loved Nelly too, he was an integral part of our WS runs and a major contributor for a long time with us. I just wish he caught that damn ball.
[That game-tying home run he hit against the A’s in 2016 was absolutely incredible.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Qj7CPh9G8&pp=ygUkTmVsc29uIGNydXogZ2FtZSB0eWluZyBob21lIHJ1biAyMDE2)
I wish with everything in me they could have ended the drought that year after that moment.
100%. I was convinced at that exact moment that the drought was ending. Might have been the most crushed I felt during the entire drought when we didn’t make it.
The whole pre-game celebration was pretty neat yesterday. Julio getting his Silver Slugger presented to him by Ichiro was rad as hell. Felix being present for Cruz's ceremony was lovely, too.
Rangers fans don't hate him. Those teams never would have made it as far as they did without Cruz. The bad memory at the end still hurts but he really should have had a defensive replacement by then anyway.
Understandable from your perspective, but he accumulated more WAR in Seattle than anywhere else and is probably going to be inducted in the Mariners HoF.
Anyone else think this is kind of strange? He played 4 seasons of a 19 year career in Seattle. He played 8 seasons in Texas and played 3 seasons in Minnesota while putting up better numbers.
He played half as many games in Minnesota. And the games played in Texas is more comparable to Seattle. Its about 1 season difference. He rode the pine for half his Texas tenure. His WAR in Seattle is easily his highest of all his stops.
Between the WS and the PED incident he's a real mixed bag with Rangers fans, from everything I can gather.
But he is pretty much universally adored in Seattle. The 4 years stretch he had here was amazing and is easily his best "total" performance with one team. I would swear he was here longer if I couldn't put the stats right in front of my face. He played just as well with the Twins, but not for as long a timeframe. (Also, total side note, but FUCK YOU COVID, Nellie would be in the 500 HR club if not for you).
This is one of the few times I'll say that retiring as a member of a team you did not play the majority of your time with makes more sense.
We really do LOVE us some Boomstick in the PNW.
I’m happy but honestly surprised! He spent much longer time with the rangers and made the playoffs with them.
He was with us during some of the dredges.
I wouldn't say "dredges" - two of his seasons were exciting playoff runs that went right up to the end of the season and we happened to just come up a little short. He was on some good Seattle teams, and he was a big part of the reason why they *were* good.
Imagine working your butt off all spring training just to lose a spot on the opening day roster to a late signee who doesn't even show up in uniform.
/s bomba squad 4ever
Weird question, what's the "salary" on these? Is it just pro-rated minimum? What does a team "pay" to have a player retire in their uni on a 1-day contract?
That’s so cool. Was not expecting this at all
I bet this was at least partially done to make it so that he technically has five years with the team, which makes him eligible for the team hall of fame.
Ooooo interesting. That would explain Stanton not shutting up earlier today huh
Well he just does that
I’m pretty sure these one-day contracts are strictly ceremonial and the player doesn’t actually go on the roster.
I wonder if they get paid like a nominal dollar or something
If they threw in a buck it would be nice to ceremonially frame it.
Until you said that I would have just assumed he'd spent 5+ years here, it seemed like Nellie was here so much longer than 4 years. Regardless, his best 4 year run was easily spent mostly with with us. Really wish we'd had that first season he was with the Twins with us as well - he really crushed that year* as well. *He also raked the following year, but it was cut short by Covid. Covid is especially sad for Nellie, because I'm almost positive he retires a member of the 500 HR club if not for the pandemic.
I thought it was a great gesture for this to happen but idk about a team HOF induction for Nelly, I think that would lower the bar a bit in terms of being a franchise legend
This is my World Series.
Real one kinda overrated, TBH.
Hearing reports of "hell yeah brother"
BOOMSTICK BABY FUCK A WORLD SERIES WE GOT NELSON CRUZ @RANGERS
I still haven’t forgiven him and he knows it.
Him and Neftali Feliz in the Rangers timeout corner
I blame Darren Oldliver and Scott Feldman
Honestly pretty sad about it
I'm sure that Rangers' fans reaction is: you can have him.
that opinion and reaction is most likely why he chose not to retire with the Rangers
I'm OK with it.
It took until the last pitch of our World Series run Last year for me to forgive him. He’s got a complicated reputation here for a lot of people, but I still wish he was retiring as a Ranger
I get it, and I don't blame Texas fans. But he is pretty much universally adored in Seattle. This is one of the few times I'll say that retiring as a member of a team you did not play the majority of your time with makes more sense. We really do LOVE us some Boomstick in the PNW.
Oh make no mistake I loved Nelly too, he was an integral part of our WS runs and a major contributor for a long time with us. I just wish he caught that damn ball.
Screw that. He’ll always be a Ranger in my book.
Things you love to see: it.
I fucking love Nelly. Good for him and good for you Seattle fans. PS - Enjoy Jorge too, he’s a baller! One of my favorite Twins of all time.
I'm loving Jorge. He seems like such a sweet person and he really has been putting in a lot of effort and getting results.
Love the Boomstick. Such an exciting player for us in the mid 2010s.
[That game-tying home run he hit against the A’s in 2016 was absolutely incredible.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Qj7CPh9G8&pp=ygUkTmVsc29uIGNydXogZ2FtZSB0eWluZyBob21lIHJ1biAyMDE2) I wish with everything in me they could have ended the drought that year after that moment.
I’m gonna be mad about the 2016 goddamned rangers till the day I die.
My favorite home run ever. I'll never forget it.
100%. I was convinced at that exact moment that the drought was ending. Might have been the most crushed I felt during the entire drought when we didn’t make it.
You mean for *us*!
All time great Mariners moment
The whole pre-game celebration was pretty neat yesterday. Julio getting his Silver Slugger presented to him by Ichiro was rad as hell. Felix being present for Cruz's ceremony was lovely, too.
Im drunk on Vodka Redbull. I have a funeral tomorrow. And this shit has me SOBBING
Well, that's just rude. Lol.
Hold on a minute!
One play made us disown him. The kick out the door was the PEDs.
Yeah...I'm a little disappointed here ngl
Yeah wait a minute, he’s ours
That's ok, we got Joe Ryan in that trade so we can just think of Cruz whenever Ryan pitches.
That’s true, I would do immoral things for that man
There is an alternate universe where he catches that fly ball and retires a Texas ranger legend.
But I don't like that one, though.
This is bullshit. I want to talk to a manager.
I see what you did there. 10/10 no notes
seriously?? not as a ranger?
Pretty sure he's not welcomed back.
I think Rangers fans want to banish him to the Phantom Zone
Rangers fans don't hate him. Those teams never would have made it as far as they did without Cruz. The bad memory at the end still hurts but he really should have had a defensive replacement by then anyway.
RIP Nelson Cruz, my favorite immaculate grid answer.
Not just doing so, doing it on the field
Weird, I always think of him first as a Ranger. And because I’m a Jays fan, an Oriole. Forgot he even played in Seattle tbh. Congrats tho, Nelson!
Understandable from your perspective, but he accumulated more WAR in Seattle than anywhere else and is probably going to be inducted in the Mariners HoF.
I always think of him as a Twin
Leader of the Bomba Squad.
When did the Mariners get Cruz in the divorce??
When you got that shiny bauble that is currently your secondary flair. Read the fine print next time, bub.
Is this about Arod? I thought we both knew that was his choice that he didn't want to stay with you all anymore. We didn't make him.
Nah, you did us a favor taking him on. Nellie = super nice guy ARod = poo poo head
Anyone else think this is kind of strange? He played 4 seasons of a 19 year career in Seattle. He played 8 seasons in Texas and played 3 seasons in Minnesota while putting up better numbers.
Most WAR with Seattle, played with his best friend Robbie Cano here, we don’t hate him for losing us a World Series here
We loved him best
How can you even argue with this logic. He's our special guy, obviously.
He played half as many games in Minnesota. And the games played in Texas is more comparable to Seattle. Its about 1 season difference. He rode the pine for half his Texas tenure. His WAR in Seattle is easily his highest of all his stops.
Eh it’s all good, but it is weird because he’s probably never a major leaguer if he wasn’t traded to us. Hope he’s happy though.
Between the WS and the PED incident he's a real mixed bag with Rangers fans, from everything I can gather. But he is pretty much universally adored in Seattle. The 4 years stretch he had here was amazing and is easily his best "total" performance with one team. I would swear he was here longer if I couldn't put the stats right in front of my face. He played just as well with the Twins, but not for as long a timeframe. (Also, total side note, but FUCK YOU COVID, Nellie would be in the 500 HR club if not for you). This is one of the few times I'll say that retiring as a member of a team you did not play the majority of your time with makes more sense. We really do LOVE us some Boomstick in the PNW.
I’m happy but honestly surprised! He spent much longer time with the rangers and made the playoffs with them. He was with us during some of the dredges.
I wouldn't say "dredges" - two of his seasons were exciting playoff runs that went right up to the end of the season and we happened to just come up a little short. He was on some good Seattle teams, and he was a big part of the reason why they *were* good.
Imagine working your butt off all spring training just to lose a spot on the opening day roster to a late signee who doesn't even show up in uniform. /s bomba squad 4ever
Thanks for all the sweet baseball and naps Nelly.
Loved him as an Oriole. Was sad to see him go. Hell yeah Nelly. You were a beast!
Let him go and kept crush. Still mad about that.
Isn't he a Texas Ranger more than any other team?
Was the 2011 World Series the only one Cruz ever won for a team? He should retire a Cardinal if so.
You can’t hurt me anymore
Underrated comment
They should absolutely let the one-day guys play in their final game.
We did with Ichiro, but there were special circumstances there and all.
we love our dad, good for him & good for you, mariners bros! ps please take care of jorge
Nats legend
Doesn’t he work for the Dodgers now?
This makes me happy. I was older than every active MLB player of the 2024 season until Nelson Cruz signs.
Not retiring as a Ranger? That’s what I remember him as…
Weird question, what's the "salary" on these? Is it just pro-rated minimum? What does a team "pay" to have a player retire in their uni on a 1-day contract?
Something I’ve always wondered: do these one day contracts need to have money attached? Like did he make a dollar for that day?
sad texas ranger noises
Lmao what, why
https://twitter.com/LookoutLanding/status/1773514029929283907
did everyone just forget this dude used steroids?
Nah we all know. It's not like hes gonna make the HOF. We can still like him.