MLB Free Agency: Crawford Surgery Makes Outfield Situation Even Worse

The outfield situation for the Boston Red Sox grew even more interesting today when we learned that Carl Crawford was getting minor surgery on an ailing left wrist. GM Ben Cherington said, "We're confident he'll [Crawford] be back and playing soon. We just don't know when," as reported by Gordon Edes. 

Cherington also mentioned that even though Crawford should make a full recovery, he still may not be 100 percent by Opening Day, which poses a big problem. With the right field position still in question, the last thing Boston needed to worry about was who is going to start the season in left field.

Crawford is now the second outfielder on the roster who may not be ready for Opening Day, Ryan Kalish being the other. As of now, Jacoby Ellsbury is the only lock to play April 5th in Detroit. 

Recently acquired Ryan Sweeney appears to be the leading candidate in right field while Kalish goes through rehabilitation on his shoulder. The other players expected to fill in during that period are Darnell McDonald and Mike Aviles. Now, either McDonald or Aviles will probably start the season in left field due to the absence of Crawford. 

Prospect Che-Hsuan Lin, who split time between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket last season, is the final in-house option for Boston. Lin hit a combined .245/.340/.305 with only two home runs and 36 RBIs in 119 games last season, making him a long-shot to make the Opening Day roster.

The free-agent market for outfield help is slowly dwindling down with the recent signing of Ryan Ludwick to the Cincinnati Reds. The two reasonable options for the Red Sox are Cody Ross and Ryan Spilborghs, both who have been on Boston's radar.

The real issue is that Boston really doesn't have the money to buy any more players. They still need starting pitchers but would need to move payroll in order to do so, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.

Obviously if there is any money at all to spend on available free agents, Cherington is going to have to decide which is more important; pitchers or outfielders.