Carl Crawford and Red Sox Must Be Patient with Outfielder's Rehab

The Boston Red Sox are no strangers to starting the season a bit banged up and this season will be no different.

New manager Bobby Valentine, according to Pete Abraham, says that highly-priced outfielder Carl Crawford is not expected on the field for Opening Day:

We also shouldn't expect Valentine to rush Crawford into the lineup.

The former Tampa Bay star struggled with expectations in Boston a year ago and the last thing they want to do is get him off to a rocky start yet again.

Not only for the sake of the team, but to actually give Crawford a chance to survive with the ruthless Boston fans. He's a former division rival and although he was a prized signing a year ago, the fans will quickly turn on him if he doesn't put things together.

The Red Sox cannot afford another down year in Valentine's first season at the helm and they cannot afford to miss the postseason again.

Boston covered themselves and will likely start Cody Ross in the outfield with Jacoby Ellsbury and Ryan Sweeney.

If they can put together a solid start to the season, the Red Sox need to take their time with Crawford. The 30-year-old signed a seven-year, $142 million deal prior to last season. His salary increases slightly each and every year and he has the power to block trades to teams while the Red Sox can block a trade to the Yankees.

Plain and simple, Crawford is in Boston for the long haul barring any insane development. Because of this, the Red Sox need to be patient.