Outstanding outfielder Carl Crawford signed a huge deal with the Boston Red Sox Wednesday. The contract is worth $142 million over 7 years, an average of over $20 million per year. That’s the most ever paid to an outfielder in the history of the game, and the ninth largest contract of all-time.
Given Crawford’s performance in left field and at the plate, he’s obviously worth the money. But the Red Sox home field at Fenway Park has the smallest left field in baseball. As mentioned by Steve Slowinski at DRaysBay, $20M is a lot to give someone who would basically be relaying baseballs after they carom off of a monster of a wall.
Red Sox blogger Ben Buchanan suggests the team will attempt to convince Crawford to move to center field. But Crawford has been reluctant to play center field in the past. We’ll have to see how it pans out.
As for the Tampa Bay Rays, they will get a first round draft pick in exchange for Crawford.
By the way, DRaysBay continues their push to give Crawford a proper send-off. As of late Wednesday night they are still a bit short of their goal in taking an ad out in the paper to thank Crawford for his time here in Tampa Bay.
The deadline for collecting donations is Sunday, so if you have enjoyed watching Crawford play these past nine seasons as a member of the St. Pete nine, go over there and consider chipping in a buck or two.