Some people are saying Nelson Cruz would be a waste, but coming into the offseason we had five major holes to fill IMO:
SP2: Lance Lynn - quality addition regardless if you like the price
SP4: TBD - need a bridge guy who can offer innings and/or upside
CL: Liam Hendriks - best possible addition for the spot
RF: Adam Eaton - underwhelming addition but LH bat with contact / OBP
DH: Nelson Cruz? - best possible addition for the spot
I get Vaughn could fill the DH spot for less, which would allow us to add a more impactful #4 starter, but there really aren’t any of those guys after Tanaka and who knows if he’d even take a one year deal. Short of a Burnes trade where you’re potentially adding an elite starter, sign the game-changing bat in Cruz and go with a Richards, Wainwright, or Archer in that #4 spot. Cruz should be significantly better than Vaughn next year and it allows Andrew a year of development, which maybe isn’t needed but can’t hurt. We just need to survive to the trade deadline and between the mid tier guys I mentioned above, Kopech, Stiever, & Lopez we should have enough depth to weather the storm. If a more impactful starter is needed at that time, our prospect cupboard should be fully stocked and we can make another move. Having an elite offense & bullpen will help get us there though.