Various outlets are now confirming Pete Abraham’s report that the Red Sox have inked Carl Crawford to a whopping seven-year, $142 million deal, which although not an unexpected outcome is somewhat surprising considering the length and dollar value of the deal. Nonetheless, the Red Sox have made another move that should boost their ballclub over the long-term, and in the process thrown down the gauntlet to the Yankees. Listed below are some thoughts on the deal as well as other immediate ramifications:
1) If the Crawford camp was willing to move quickly with the Red Sox, does that mean they believe the Yankees are about to sign Cliff Lee, which would have removed a possible suitor from the bidding process? If so, the news that Lee will now make a decision over the weekend could foreshadow his future in pinstripes.
2) Carl Crawford is a quality player, without a doubt, but 2010 kind of stands out as a career year. If he reverts to his previous norm, is $20 million really a reasonable price? Probably not, but although they hate to admit it, the Red Sox make lots of money. So, like the Yankees, they can pay a premium for talent. Once concern, however, is defense. Much of Crawford’s value is related to his ability to play an excellent left field, but much of that contribution will be mitigated by playing 81 games in front of the Green Monster. In other words, the Red Sox will be paying for a talent that Crawford can only use on the road. Although a less than optimal use of resources, it is a sacrifice a team like Boston can afford to make.
3) If the Yankees get Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte returns, the team’s top three pitchers would all be left handed. With the addition of Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to a lineup that also includes JD Drew and David Ortiz, that could provide the Yankees with an advantage when playing their rivals.
4) Much is often made about the Yankees and Red Sox always trying to one-up each other, but the fact of the matter is both teams actually wind up being better off when their rival is strengthened. Why? Because it weakens the rest of the league, which in turn makes it more likely that both teams will make the playoffs. By Crawford signing with the Red Sox, the Rays have been weakened and the Angels failed to improve. If the Yankees sign Lee, the Rangers take a hit. In other words, there may not be a third team capable of challenging the two AL East powers.
1) Probably the Crawford desicion has no relation on whether Lee is gonna be signed soon (i think he won’t sign with ‘our’ Yanks). But maybe they saw this was the best offer they got, and considering that Magglio has not been signed, they needed to sign before Magglio (IF Ordóñez signed for less than 20 million then Crawford’s contract could have resulted in less money).
2) The BoSox NEEDED Carl, so they threw at him tons of millions, and he accepted, the Yankees merely WANTED him, as they want Lee. That’s a big difference on how both teams make moves.
The Yankees last year NEEDED a DH, a backup catcher, a LF, relievers and starting pitching.
They got: a CF, various mediocre fielders and a DH.
The Bosox last year NEEDED an OF, a thirdbaseman (Lowell was not fully recovered), and starting pitching.
They got Beltré (3B), Cameron (OF) and Lackey (P). They got better.
This year they needed a first baseman or thirdbaseman since Youkilis plays both corners equally good, needed an OF, relievers, a catcher.
Right now they’ve added a 1st baseman, and an OF, premium players, they yankees merely get something here and something there, but are not very bright on what they NEED.
Yanks NEEDED: SS, closer, DH, OF (Gardner will have a bad year now that everybody knows he just swings at 30% of strikes down the middle of the plate), a backup Catcher, starting pitchers (at least one), and long relievers.
They got: SS and a closer (the same ones we had last season). They have not made themselves BETTER. Simply plugged the holes with aging veterans in their last seasons in the MLB.
3) IF the Yankees get Lee, BUT what if they don’t get him? i think they won’t get him, they are incapable of making that kind of a splash (look at Crawford, they wanted him and he’s gone).
4) Again, IF the Yankees sign Lee, but right now as it is, the yankees don’t have a Catcher, Texeira always starts slow, Jeter is older and not so good at hitting without a real second bat, Alex is not the same, Gardner was mediocre once the league knew how to pitch him (swings at 30% of strikes in the middle of the plate).
So far the starting rotation consists of an ace (CC), a guy who no one knows if he’ll be ok (AJ), and that’s it, we don’t know if Huges will be a starter or again will be moved to the bullpen (in 2008 we had Joba starting and doing a fine job until the “joba rules” threw him off, and in 2009 he was back in the bullpen), we don’t know if Andy will be back.
Boston has three aces in Lester, Beckett and Lackey, and there’s still Buchholz and Daisuke; Beckett and Lackey were not so good, but still it’s better to know you have pitchers than to don’t even know who will be the 4th starter for the yanks, let alone the 5th starter… or the long relief.
.781 career OPS, love it
If Desmond Jennings pans out, the loss of Crawford will be mitigated, somewhat.
True, but he may need time to develop. Also, an OF of Crawford, Jennings and Upton would have been pretty nice as well.
The signing of werth and the future prospects of strausberg will motivate lee to sign up and become the leader to carry a nats team w promise for the next 5 years, vice becoming the yankees’ next annual soul-less purchase.