ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers don't know if Nelson Cruz will be back with the club next season but they are at least going to make an effort to keep him.
Texas general manager Jon Daniels said he expects to extend a qualifying offer to Cruz.
What happens after that remains to be seen.
"We're going to need corner run production," Daniels said. "We're going to need some power. Obviously Nellie's been a source of that here the last few years. First order of business is we'll have to decide whether we extend the qualifying offer to him. We haven't made that decision formally yet but I expect we will."
Daniels said there will be more organizational meetings next week and then he expects the team to begin contacting its free agents.
Despite missing 50 games because of his PED suspension, Cruz still hit 27 home runs and made the All-Star team.
The Rangers were in a similar situation last year with Josh Hamilton. The club did make a qualifying offer to Hamilton. Once he declined and signed with the Los Angeles Angels, the Rangers received draft-pick compensation.
