Do the Red Sox have a deal done with Carl Crawford? That’s what PeteAbe is Tweeting:
Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford? That’s quite the lineup upgrade for the Sox. I’ve written before (as have many others) that seven years seems ill-advised to me for a player like Crawford who relies so much on his speed, but that’s not to say he won’t kick ass and take names for a while yet. I hope that wherever he is, Jesus Montero is working on his snap throws to second.
Keep in mind that this isn’t confirmed yet. Still, Abraham wouldn’t have run with it if he wasn’t confident in his source.
UPDATE: Okay, now it’s confirmed: the deal is all but done, pending a physical and a few contract details. Who’s happier right now, Crawford, Sox fans, or Cliff Lee’s agent?
Let's see. Heyman had Crawford going to the Yanks this afternoon. Francesa said it was likely because the team has unlimited amounts of cash and really does not have a budget. With that logic how about 200 mil. for Lee. I guess it's all play money.
We are really being well served by these reporters.
I'm relieved its not the Yankees overpaying Crawford. I would have preferred he went to a different team, but those numbers are goofy.
Now you have to think Lee gets a bigger offer from Cashman.
[...] day I was reading that the Angels were going to land Carl Crawford. Via Bronx Banter, Peter Abraham reports the Red Sox sealed the deal: Source: The Red Sox have a seven-year, $142 [...]
Don't really think Crawford and AGon are a combined upgrade over 2010 Beltre and Vmart (especially when you consider Crawfords value is lessened in Fenway), but they are upgrades for the future.
Crawford's deal is really staggering, but Boston can afford to grossly overpay for talent. Now, the Yankees have to do the same with Lee, who now holds the balance of power in his left hand.
Crawford's never had a .365 OBP or a .500 SLG and now he's the highest paid OFer. That makes sense.
Yanks should have more than enough offense with Lee on the staff. Otherwise, we have the wrong team, because all the key line-up spots are locked up forever. But without Lee in the Bronx, the Sawx look a little better on paper right right now.
looks like the Melkman will soon be joining Frenchy in royal blue.
meanwhile, the small market shit sox...
I'm really worried about the Yankees making some kind of panic move.
[6] I can't see that happening, unless Hal gets involved.
I think Crawford helps the Sox over the next two or three years, but the contract is going to hurt them badly in the long run. Think of the Yankees' Damon signing but add three years to the contract. I'm very glad it's not going to be our albatross.
So now I'm looking forward to Peter Gammons decrying the third of a billion $ (or whatever it turns out to be) that the Sox are spending in this off season, o the unfairness! trying to buy a championship!
Do I still have to listen to Sawx fans decrying the Yank's spending? As concerned as I am about the holes in the pitching staff, I wonder who will throw out Carl?
So all of a sudden the Sox are going to be a base-stealing team instead of waiting for the 3-run HR? If Crawford loses half a step over the next 7 years he's not going to give them the return they're expecting.
Oh boo-hoo. Crawford's contract is going to outlive his speed, and [9] above is right -- albatross will be the word. It'll be nice to see another team sporting one of those for a change.
In the meantime, focusing only in the internal Yankee situation: You have X amount of money to spend. What's your priority -- the outfield, or the rotation? Right. So from a divisional standpoint it would have been nice to see Crawford land in Milwaukee instead, but I never thought signing him here was the move.
Besides, I like Gardner, Swish and Grandy. I like watching them compete. [Cue my personal broken record] This is entertainment, after all. They're my guys.
And [10] above - word, brother. Can we shower the Fenway outfield with dollar bills now? You point was always true, but how nicely underlined it's been this week.
I've been excoriated before for making a similar assumption regarding how speed ages. The people who have actually studied what's happened in the past have concluded that speed players age better than non-speed guys.
At the end of seven years its quite likely Crawford's skills will have deteriorated less than Gonzalez's.
It seems counter-intuitive, I know. But that's what the guys who care way more about that kind of stuff than I do say.
[5] Good call, Matt. At first, I was like, "uh-oh." But Crawford has been an overrated player, especially over the last three years. The lack of OBP doesn't lend to top of the order placement, and while he's fast, he's not a good base runner. Posada, for as woeful as he is throwing runners out, has had reasonable success against Crawford. And Crawford has exhibited tendencies to run himself, and his teams, out of innings. He's essentially Brett Gardner with more power.
[9] Great call, RIYank. Glad he's not the Yankees' albatross. That is AJ Burnett. And soon, it will be Cliff Lee.