Carl Crawford Signs With Boston Red Sox: 10 Reasons The Deal Makes Sense
Carl Crawford and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a seven-year contract worth $142 million. The left fielder will be taking his talents to Boston after most rumors had him projected to land either with the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Angels.
The Red Sox were quiet on talks with Crawford, probably due to past experiences such as losing Mark Teixeira to the Yankees. In the end they prevailed and got what most consider to be the top outfielder on the market.
There will be plenty of debate on how the move affects the balance of power in the American League East, should baseball have a salary cap, how the Yankees can lose a bidding war and many other topics. However, at the end of the day, Boston was the best situation for Crawford.
10. New York Is Not His Type of City
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New York is one of the toughest sports cities to play in. If Crawford would've signed with the Yankees, he would have had to endure with the New York media as well.
Crawford isn't the type of player that runs to the media for attention. Most of his free agency was kept quiet with a few updates and rumors here and there, compared to anything that happens in New York where every quote becomes a topic of debate.
He handles being a visitor in New York exceptionally well, but it is hard to imagine it being home for him.
Looking at how the Yankees handled negotiations with Derek Jeter, the face of the franchise since the late 90s, was probably a factor Crawford had in his decision-making process.
9. Boston Is a Great Sports Town
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A player with the work ethic and performance of Carl Crawford deserves to play in a premier sports town. Crawford played his entire career thus far in the dungeon of Tropicana Field. Not only is the dome itself horrible but the attendance is even more dismal.
In 2010 as the Rays played their way to the club's second American League East Championship, attendance was non-existent. At the end of the season the Rays had to give away 20,000 tickets in order to have a sold out game.
It is good for Carl that he gets the opportunity to feel a home-field advantage every time he runs out towards left field in Fenway.
8. Crawford Plays Great in Fenway
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In 2011, there will be no place like home for Carl Crawford. Fenway Park is a place where he has had some great games.
In his 37 Fenway at-bats last season, he compiled a .324 AVG, .432 SLG and .350 OBP. He also stole seven bases in front of his new home crowd.
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7. He Plays Even Better in New York
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The Red Sox are on a hunt for October. With the Rays dismantling virtually overnight, the Yankees are the only team in the way of another division championship.
In his 40 at-bats in Yankee Stadium in 2010, he had a .350 AVG, .450 SLG and .381 OBP.
No Red Sox player with over 20 at-bats in Yankee Stadium had a higher batting average than Crawford.
6. He Is Surrounded by Other Great Players
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Carl Crawford had many accomplishments during his time in Tampa Bay. However, in Tampa he was surrounded mostly by average players.
In Boston, Crawford will be surrounded by other elite talent. This should take some of the pressure off of Crawford to have to be the star, like it was on him and Evan Longoria in Tampa.
5. Red Sox vs. Yankees
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Red Sox versus Yankees is the greatest rivalry in baseball.
Carl has had the opportunity to play in the little brother rivalry in the AL East between the Rays and both teams. Now he will be front and center for the hatred and emotion that is displayed when two of the most storied franchises in baseball square off against each other.
Beating the Yankees is something Crawford has become accustomed to in recent years.
4. Red Sox Will Be Competitive in 2011
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The Red Sox finished just short of the 2010 MLB playoffs in a season when they were decimated by injuries. With a healthy roster and the offseason additions of Adrian Gonzalez and now Carl Crawford, they should be the favorites in the American League East in 2011.
3. He Will Have a Greater Legacy in Boston
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Boston fans grew tired with their last superstar left fielder since he only gave a mediocre effort. "Carl being Carl" wouldn't leave a bad taste in fan's mouths. By the end of his Boston career, he will probably be one of the franchise's all-time greats.
Crawford brings a skill at the plate and in the field that the Red Sox deeply need.
Last season was the second time in his career he had at least 100 runs, 30 doubles, 10 triples and 15 home runs. The only Red Sox players to achieve those milestones were Nomar Garciaparra in 1997 and 2003 and Ted Williams in 1939 and 1940.
2. Boston Can Afford Him
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Without knowing what the market for Carl Crawford was when free agency started, we did know that the Tampa Bay Rays couldn't afford it.
Then, Jayson Werth's seven-year $126 million deal with the Nationals set the floor for negotiations with Carl Crawford. This took the bidding officially out of the budget for most teams in baseball.
The only teams that really were in the negotiations were Boston, New York and the Los Angeles Angels.
With the Yankees negotiating Cliff Lee and Derek Jeter, the Red Sox flew under the radar and wooed Crawford to the tune of seven years, $142 million.
1. Crawford Will Be Making A Lot of Money
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Not only could Boston afford him, they paid him a king's ransom. Let's break down how much he will truly be making with the Red Sox.
His average annual salary will be $20,285,714 which is the seventh highest among active players.That averages out to approximately $139,000 per game, $34,000 per at-bat or $17,000 per inning in the outfield.
However you slice it, he will be making a lot of money in Boston. That's probably enough to have him singing Sweet Caroline all the way to the bank.
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