The Rocky Mountains announced that the first base CJ Cron has been signed for a secondary league contract, which contains an invitation to the spring league training camp.
Cron signed a $ 6.1 million one-year free agent contract with the Tigers last winter and got off to a strong start at Motown, hitting four home runs with some good base numbers and hitting (0.194 / 0.346 / 0.548). 52 plate appearances. Unfortunately, Cron’s season ended prematurely after he suffered an injury to his left knee that required surgery. As might be expected, there was not much buzz out of season about a player coming out of such a procedure, although last month, Cron was released for all activities and should be ready to contribute fully during the spring camp.
The 31-year-old Cron showed off-average offensive production (110 wRC +, 111 OPS +) over his seven seasons in the Major League, reaching 0.257 / 0.312 / 0.464 with 118 home runs in 2586 career appearances with Tigers, Gemini , rays and angels. As Cron is only a first-base player whose baton is merely above average and not elite, however, the teams consider him expendable, as both Minnesota and Tampa Bay chose not to bid him instead of paying the arbitration salary crescent of Cron.
An opportunity presents itself for regular playing time in Denver, as Cron may now be the favorite for the Rockies’ first home base. He will be competing with Josh Fuentes and another secondary league coming in Greg Bird, how Ryan McMahon seems to be shifting through the diamond to take over Nolan Arenado on the third base. Cron is certainly one of many veteran hitters who hope that NL will end up adopting the designated hitter again, as this would create another route for regular hitting in 2021 and beyond.