Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
We are talking about the active leader for “Worst Free Agent Signing in MLB History” after his worthless — 0.0 WAR — debut last season will be matched in the first half of this season. At an average of $20.3 million per year payable through 2017, Crawford’s seven-year deal is entering historic territory.
At $30 million for a season-and-a-half of nothing, Crawford is going to make the seven-year, $126 million Vernon Wells deal look pretty thrifty.
The Cubs wanted to spend $136 million over eight years for Alfonso Soriano? Shrewd.
Albert Pujols and the Angels, for $240 million over 10 years? That one needs at least a month of evidence before a verdict can be rendered.
Most long-term contracts factor in a year — maybe two, depending on length — lost to injury, but usually teams expect the dropoff, due to age and/or injury, to occur in the waning years of the deal.
The Red Sox are getting it at the very front end.
Really, can it get any worse for the next 51⁄2 years?
This year, it is Crawford’s body that is breaking down. At the age of 30 (he’ll turn 31 in August) and known for his speed in the outfield and on the basepaths, the one positive from this terrible 2012 is that it’s his upper body — left wrist surgery, left elbow — letting him down. Of course, he has not had much of a chance to pull another hamstring like last year, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
And let’s not dwell too long on last year’s mental anguish, either. Crawford did play in 130 games, so it was not his body that was at fault.
Herald: Carl Crawford a costly loss
No new news here. 9-out-of-10 topics between Red Sox fans have been about Crawford and the money invested in him. Theo threw money and Crawford and he accepted. I would.
I don't want to discuss the money issue any further, because it is old news. The biggest concern is the loss of the glove in left, and the speed on the basepaths. Yeah, he only had 18 steals last season, but this year was supposed to be different. 2012 spelled redemption for Carl Crawford. A speedy recovery from wrist surgery, excellent results during bunting drills, then a setback. And this is where we stand.
The additions of Ross and Sweeney have made the loss of Crawford that much easier. His performance last season has made the Ross and Sweeney additions make us feel that much warmer inside.
I'll end the useless babbling and just say, Crawford is down for a few months, he has a ton of money for doing very little, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. So we have to deal with it and hope the pieces in the outfield keep up the production.
The rest of the links:
Globe: Salty heats up and Red Sox win 4 straight | Saltalamacchia, Red Sox catching fire | WEEI: Friday's Red Sox White Sox matchups: Daniel Bard vs. John Danks | Projo: Tazawa keeps mowing down hitters
Original Story:
|
April 26, 2012
