The Padres signed an infielder/outfielder Nick Solak and the left hand Omar Cruz in minor league deals, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Most likely, both players will be invited to major league camp during spring training.
Solak, 31, has been a key prospect for the Rangers but has struggled to establish himself as a useful big leaguer. He stepped up to the plate 974 times as a Ranger from 2019 to 2022 but produced a scorching .252/.327/.372 slash line. That translated to a 93 wRC+, indicating he was seven percent worse than league average at the plate.
That low offense made for a difficult combination with his lack of defensive value. He played three interfields endlessly and spent some time on the outside but received low marks wherever he landed on the diamond.
He continued to stretch the children, however. Just last year in the Pirates system, he pitched 482 times at the Triple-A level. He had a 10% walk rate, a 13% strikeout rate, a .332/.411/.492 line and a 143 wRC+. That was helped by a .364 batting average on balls in play but it could still have been decent production even with a slight setback there. He was called up briefly by Pittsburgh but played in only four games. Running out of options, he was left off the 40-man roster entirely.
A right-handed hitter, Solak has a remarkable platoon split, with a .279/.358/.420 line and a 115 wRC+ against lefties in his career. Maybe that could help him carve out a bench/utility role, helping the Friars keep southpaws away from lefties. Gavin Spreadsheets, Sung Mun Song again Jake Cronenworth in the first base/second base/designated hitter rotation. In the meantime, Solak gives them position player depth without taking up a roster spot.
Cruz, 27 later this month, just made his major league debut with San Diego last year. He threw 3 2/3 innings for the Padres, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five.
There is only one day in the year when a player can be cut from the roster and sent to free agency without being exposed to waivers. That day is a non-tender deadline. The Friars didn’t sign Cruz, sent him to free agency, and now put him back on the roster.
Cruz was a starter for his minor league career. He was used mostly as a reliever in 2024 and appeared to have a bit of an off year. He had a 3.96 ERA in the minors, striking out 32.3% of the batters he faced and posting a 9.9% walk rate. Last year, the Padres tried to extend him again but eventually got bored and sent him back to the bullpen. The result was 83 1/3 Triple-A innings for the year with a 4.75 ERA, 23.2% strikeout rate and 14.5% walk rate.
Whether the Padres still have dreams of extending him or will keep him in free agency remains to be seen. Either way, you’re giving them a depth that isn’t left at the moment. If he finally earns a roster spot again, he still has a few seasons left to choose from.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
