Red Sox going after Carl Crawford

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Red-Sox-going-after-Carl-Crawford?urn=mlb-280883

Fri Oct 29 02:51am PDT
Red Sox going after Carl Crawford

By Mark J. Miller

Longtime baseball reporter and commentator Peter Gammons told WEEI sports radio Thursday that the Boston Red Sox would be going after free agent Carl Crawford(notes) hard in the offseason. "That will be a matchup with the [Los Angeles] Angels, and you know there are some puffs of smoke coming out of New York that suggest the Yankees might go after him, even though their primary need is pitching," Gammons told the station.
Gammons doesn't expect catcher Victor Martinez(notes) to return to the Red Sox, figuring the Detroit Tigers will give him a four- or five-year contract.

He also sounded pretty convinced that Texas Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee(notes) will re-sign with the Rangers.

Ellsbury and Crawford would make for one speedy combo..................

Crawford hopes to add to Red Sox left-field legacy..

BOSTON (AP)—Carl Crawford hopes to live up to the legacy of Boston left fielders.

At a news conference Saturday after he signed a $142 million, seven-year contract, Crawford said that when his career is over he hopes he will be mentioned among Red Sox greats such as Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice and Manny Ramirez.



The speedy Crawford’s signing as a free agent follows Boston’s acquisition of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez(notes) from San Diego and gives the Red Sox one of the best lineups in the majors. Crawford said
he wanted to stay in the AL East and doesn’t mind where manager Terry Francona puts him in the lineup.

“Whatever he wants to do with me is fine,” Crawford said.

Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury(notes), who missed most of the 2010 season with rib injuries, likely will lead off once
he fully recovers.

“Our best team is when Jacoby’s hitting first,” Francona said.

Crawford, a four-time All-Star, hit .307 for Tampa Bay this year while setting career highs with 19 homers and 90 RBIs. A four-time stolen base champion, he swiped 47 bases and led the AL with 13 triples.

General manager Theo Epstein called him a “game changer.”

Crawford, who won his first Gold Glove award this year, receives a $6 million signing bonus, with $1 million payable within 30 days of approval and the rest in $1 million installments on the first day of five consecutive months starting in May.

He gets salaries of $14 million next season, $19.5 million in 2012, $20 million in 2013, $20.25 million in 2014, $20.5 million in 2015, $20.75 million in 2016 and $21 million in 2017.

Crawford would earn a $50,000 bonus each time he’s an All-Star; $100,000 each for Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and World Series MVP; and $75,000 for league championship series MVP. He would get $200,000 for winning the MVP award, $125,000 for second, $100,000 for third, $75,000 for fourth and $50,000 for fifth.

He also receives a limited no-trade provision. Boston designates 28 teams he can be traded to without his consent and Crawford can eliminate two of them.

Yahoo Sports

http://www.nesn.com/2010/12/carl-crawford-wears-liverpool-tie-to-red-sox-news-conference.html

Carl Crawford Wears Liverpool Tie to Red Sox News Conference

by Mike Cole on Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 4:36PM


Carl Crawford Wears Liverpool Tie to Red Sox News Conference


Carl Crawford Wears Liverpool Tie to Red Sox News Conference

by Mike Cole on Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 4:36PM

by Mike Cole on Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 4:36PM

New Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford is already showing how much of a company man he can be.
According to Hall of Famer and NESN correspondent Peter Gammons, the new Red Sox signing couldn't find the right color tie for his introductory news conference on Saturday, so he turned to one of his new bosses.
"Carl Crawford wanted to wear a red tie to his presser," Gammons tweeted. "[Red Sox executive VP and COO] Sam Kennedy gave him a Liverpool FC tie, thus merging MLB and Premier League."
Liverpool FC, of course, is the English Premier League soccer club purchased by Red Sox owner John Henry and his business group Fenway Sports Ventures.
It was a busy day for Red Sox ownership with the Crawford news conference at 10 a.m., followed by a 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff for Liverpool's match with Newcastle.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-10130271

Fan’s view: Carl Crawford’s $14 million performance for Boston
By Paul Rados, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Oct 3, 6:06 pm EDT
For the Boston Red Sox, a .255 batting average, 11 home runs, and 56 RBIs from a single player cost the franchise $14 million. This same player hit .307 with 19 home runs and 90 RBIs last season for the Tampa Bay Rays. Can you guess who it is?

You guessed correctly if you said Carl Crawford(notes).

Up for debate is whether Crawford is worth the $14 million he was paid for 2011, and especially the $19.5 million he is scheduled to make next season in 2012. Why not take a look at some key statistics to put into perspective Crawford's cost if her were paid for that individual metric.


In 2011, Crawford appeared in 130 games. His cost per game to the Red Sox would be $107,692.

In 2011, Crawford logged 538 at-bats. He would make $26,022 each time he made an appearance at the plate.

Crawford recorded 129 hits in 2011. He essentially cost the Red Sox $108,527 per hit off an opposing pitcher.

Crawford scored 65 runs in 2011. If he were paid per run, the Red Sox would be responsible for $215,384 every time he crossed home plate.

In 2011, Crawford hit 11 home runs. If he were paid per home run, the Red Sox would owe him $1,272,727 each time he hit one out of the park.

But let's be realistic here. Every major league ballplayer would have statistics that would seem high to the average man, regardless of the fact Crawford's salary accounts for 8.92 percent of the team's payroll.

I want to put it in terms everyone can relate to:

Per month: $1,166,666

Per week: $269,230

Per day: $38,356

Per hour: $1,598

Per minute $26.64

In the time it took me to research and write this article, Crawford would have made nearly $1,600. I'm sure I could be a mediocre baseball player for a mere fraction of that rate. Perhaps I should dig up my old high school baseball jersey!

As a fan of the Boston Red Sox, it is difficult to see that amount of money be paid for such a poor performance this season. Crawford is signed through 2017, making $20 million or more each season after 2012. I cannot fathom that caliber of payment for such performances.

Maybe I am being unfair to Crawford. Perhaps it was simply an "off" season in his career. Regardless, he will need to greatly improve his game next season if he expects to get any support from this longtime fan.