In a display of ninja-like stealth that would make even Brian Cashman proud, the Boston Red Sox made a big acquisition today. Our old friend Peter Abraham broke the news, reporting that the Sawx have signed Rays OF Carl Crawford to a 7-year 142 million dollar contract. This is a big signing for Boston, and somewhat of a surprise, as I’m sure many people were expecting Boston to be done with handing out big paychecks after acquiring Adrian Gonzalez (and his reported Teixeira-esque extension demands).
Crawford will be a nice addition to the Boston lineup, likely hitting in the 2-hole behind Jacoby Ellsbury, and ahead of Pedroia, Gonzalez, and Youkilis. His speed and on-base ability will allow him to score a lot of runs in front of Boston’s big boppers, and give Yankee catchers fits on the basepaths. He’s also a great defensive outfielder, though his defensive value will be limited at home (in Fenway’s small left field). Before the Jason Werth signing, if somebody told me that Carl Crawford, whom I consider a very good player but not a star, would be getting 20 million/year for 7 years, I would have been shocked. After the Werth deal, this one doesn’t look quite as bad for the Sox. I am curious what this deal means for Ryan Kalish, who was probably penciled in as the starting leftfielder after making a good impression in his debut last year.
The signing does put a number of other pieces in motion. We can assume that the Angels (who were very interested in Crawford) will likely focus their attention on Adrian Beltre. I imagine the Angels will wind up with Beltre, barring a Werth-esque surprise bid from another squad. I could also see Boston pursuing a Type-A reliever (like Scott Downs) because they would only have to surrender a 2nd-round pick for the signing.
The addition of another lefty hitter (who does not hit as well against lefties) in the Boston lineup will likely increase the sense of urgency that the Yankees face to sign Cliff Lee, though I’m not sure his demands/price will be substantially changed. The Crawford signing also takes Crawford off the market for the Yankees, who might have considered him as a fall-back should Lee wind up returning to the Rangers or going elsewhere. I still think Lee is likely to end up in Pinstripes, as I doubt the Rangers or another team will match the Yankees’ alleged 6-year 140 million offer.
What does this signing mean for the division next year? Certainly, Boston’s lineup will be improved, and top-to-bottom its depth is comparable to the Yankees’. I might put Boston’s lineup slightly ahead of the Yankees’ at this point (mostly because of the age of Jeter, A-Rod and Posada), though with a Cliff Lee signing and an Andy Pettitte return (admittedly, neither are guaranteed at this point), I would take the Yankee rotation and bullpen over Boston’s. Are the Yankees doomed? Far from it. It will definitely be an exciting race for the division, and with the Rays likely taking a step back ( losing Crawford, Pena, and Soriano), the team that doesn’t win the division will still be in good shape for a Wild Card berth. Remember, they still have to play the games, and ultimately, the season will probably come down to which team suffers the fewest significant injuries.
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10 Responses to Sox Surprisingly Sign Speedster
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I pretty much saw this coming a week ago because he just makes more sense with Boston’s lineup than Werth and Gonzo did, think about badass this lineup is.
Ellsbury
Pedroia
Crawford
Gonzalez
Youkilis
Ortiz
Lowrie
Drew
Salty/Tek
I’m assuming they trade Scutaro for middle relief help and some money relief and if they can get Crawford to agre to play CF (doubtful) it really maximizes the value of this contract.
Don’t think they’ll want him to play CF. But could picture a “rotation”: when they play at home, they maximize his speed by playing him in RF and Drew in LF. Away, Crawford stays in LF and Drew in RF. But that’s just how I would play it….
Francona, however, doesn’t seem to think like this, as he had no problem with putting the speedy Ellsbury in the tiny Fenway LF…
Because all sabermetrics suggest Ellsbury isn’t a very great defensive CFer just fast which is why they signed Cameron to play CF instead, also there no way Crawford has the arm to play in RF he doesn’t have the strength or accuracy for that.
They will play him in either LF or CF and he would be above average in either position but if you have a 3 hole hitting CF hitting 20 HRs a year, driving in 100 and stealing 45 a year you probably have the best centerfielder in all of baseball.
The Red Sox would want him to play CF (the Rays approached him several times about it) but Crawford is the one who has been reluctant do so but if you get paid 20 million per year you’ll play center if they say too and Carl would be better in CF than Ellsbury would be.
So Ellsbury back to CF where he stunk it up? Was the Cameron deal only for 1 yr?
I guess Gonzo + Crawford + new catcher = Beltre + Martinez + cameron? I dunno, seems like they aren’t so much better off than last year. What really helps their lineup simply is Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Youklis getting healthy. Either way, this yr or last yr (if they were healthy) they have a scary lineup. Good thing soon enough Yanks and Sox will both be guaranteed playoff spots with the expansion of the wild card
Cameron was a 2 year deal so now he will be their very expensive 4th outfielder.
Also the “new catcher” is Salty who they traded for from the Rangers last year.
I think their no doubt this lineup is better than last years was suppose to be.
Ellsbury
Pedroia
Vmart
Youkilis
Ortiz
Beltre
Drew
Cameron
Scutaro
Does anyone else have a hard time viewing Carl Crawford as a 20 million dollar a year player? Even if he plays CF and hits 3rd in their order I still don’t think he is worth 20, I know this price was driven up by Werth and he shouldn’t have gotten what he did but I think Crawford is a great 15-17 million dollar a year player and I could see as high as 18 if he’s hitting 3rd in an order but for 20 I need a little more dominance, the ability to throw a lineup on your back and carry that team.
I have to say Theo is becoming less and less impressive as time goes by. I thought Bill James was a RS advisor. I can’t imagine him touting this deal. Low OBA and not a lot of power for a LF in Fenway doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
He may not be worth 20 million but let’s not act like this is a bad deal or they shouldn’t have done it… As long as they hit him 3rd they will see more than enough return for the contract, name how many players hit 20 HRs, drive in 100 and steal 45 in this league? The thing that puts this over the top is if he plays CF because that would make his value as high as any centerfielder in baseball.
Crawford has shown he is developing the swing to hit 20-25 HRs a year as long as he is hitting 2nd or 3rd and he showed this year he can drive in runs hitting 3rd which is key to receiving the value they want out of this deal with him.
Imagine how many runs he can drive in with Ellsbury and Pedroia in front of him and then imagine how many runs Gonzo and Youk can drive in hitting 4th and 5th with those 3 in front of them!
Also….this will put a little more pressure on Montero if he is the catcher of the future. It’s going to suck for the Yanks if everytime Crawford gets on he ends up standing on 3rd after 2 pitches. I know it doesn’t make or break a deal…just interesting that Theo makes a move that will expose a future Yankee weakness.
That’s why it would be a nice idea to sign Martin this year who has a 31% throwout rate and possibly he could recindle some old talents and you have a new starter or trade or at the least he plays for a year and helps Montero out with D in the time being.
Besides all reports are that Romine can throw out runners and should end up being a more than decent defensive catcher and with Murphy and Sanchez in the system at C as well I’m sure someone will be able to stick behind the plate if we have to Move Montero to DH.