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2013 Stats: 109 G, .266/.327/.506, 27 HR, 123 OPS+



When it comes to evaluating the free-agent profile of Nelson Cruz, three separate routes can be taken: the good, the bad and the unknown.



Let's start with the good.



If a team invests in Cruz, he'll undoubtedly bring power to the lineup. Over the last five seasons, the former Rangers right fielder has hit 135 home runs, good for 17th best in the sport. Among the players below him on that list: Josh Hamilton, Joey Votto and Troy Tulowitzki.

During that same span, Cruz owns the 15th-best ISO (isolated slugging percentage) in MLB. According to Fangraphs, ISO is defined as a measure of a hitter's raw power.



Now, the bad.



Outside of power, there's little reason to bring Cruz aboard to a contending team. He's a poor defender, provides no speed on the bases and isn't a selective hitter at the plate. If his power deteriorates over the next few seasons, Cruz will be a replacement-level player.



Despite the impressive home run and raw-power marks, Cruz has been worth only 10.3 WAR to the Texas Rangers since 2009. Outside of a 4.3 WAR during a star-level 2010, the 33-year-old outfielder didn't surpass 2.3 WAR in any other of those years. Nearly 100 players, including luminaries like Mark Ellis and Brendan Ryan, have been worth more WAR over the last five seasons.



Power is in short supply, but one-dimensional players are a scary proposition.



The unknown, Cruz's 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, complicates the situation.



If Cruz was aided by PEDs, his power could disappear quickly. If he wasn't, his free-agent value took a hit for reasons that will not change his game over the next few years.



Of the remaining outfielders available in free agency, Cruz is clearly the best. Yet, there's a reason Choo, Ellsbury and Beltran all landed contracts before the former Ranger. Over the next few weeks, Cruz's name will pop up in rumors. Expect to hear the Seattle Mariners, per Richard Justice of MLB.com, connected to the former AL West slugger.