How about trading for Carl Crawford?

[CA-ORIOLE]

I was reading that there was quite a rift in Boston about signing Carl Crawford last year. Henry came out and said there was division in the organization about it and that he was totally against it but got overruled by Lucchino/Epstein.

After the disastrous year he had, I'm not sure he wouldn't be available. As long as we're talking about signing ridiculous FA's, why not consider this guy. He wouldn't cost us a draft pick at least.

The guy is just not well suited to play LF in that park. Even if you argue it's the park and he'll adjust etc. he's only going to get half the chances a normal LF might get. Just a waste of value imo.

I'm not the biggest Carl Crawford fan myself (didn't like his away splits out of Tropicana), but if the price were right (i.e some discount off that contract) and maybe somebody like Reimold etc back in the deal, I might think about it. Maybe we put Crawford in CF. Thoughts?

[lint06]

I wouldn't be interested in Crawford unless he was had very cheaply. I'd rather try Reimold for a full year. Furthermore, of all of the Red Sox players people seem to grasping at, he's my least favorite.

[Can_of_corn]

I was reading that there was quite a rift in Boston about signing Carl Crawford last year. Henry came out and said there was division in the organization about it and that he was totally against it but got overruled by Lucchino/Epstein.

After the disastrous year he had, I'm not sure he wouldn't be available. As long as we're talking about signing ridiculous FA's, why not consider this guy. He wouldn't cost us a draft pick at least.

The guy is just not well suited to play LF in that park. Even if you argue it's the park and he'll adjust etc. he's only going to get half the chances a normal LF might get. Just a waste of value imo.

I'm not the biggest Carl Crawford fan myself (didn't like his away splits out of Tropicana), but if the price were right (i.e some discount off that contract) and maybe somebody like Reimold etc back in the deal, I might think about it. Maybe we put Crawford in CF. Thoughts?

If Crawford had the arm to play center field he would have been in center field this whole time.

Unless Crawford can steal a lot of bases at a high success rate he doesn't have the bat to be a premier corner outfielder, which is what he is being paid to be.

[oriole]

Crawford is going to be outrageously expensive the next 6 years. Unless there was parts of his contract covered by Boston along with Boston asking little in return then there is no way I'd do it. Plus, if Boston wanted to get him off their team they'd be wise not to do it to a divisional rival (even if its the Orioles).

But if you were asking if I had to and Boston was interested I may go as far as having Boston cover 8 million a year and trading him for someone like Arrieta.

[CSB Jack]

Not with that contract. I can't fathom how anyone would think that was a reasonable deal for the team, any team. People talk about Markakis and his "bad" contract, but he's only scheduled to be maxing out at 17.5MM if the Orioles pick up his option for his age 31 year in 2015. Crawford is signed through his age 35 season in 2015, ranging from 19.5MM in 2012 escalating to 21MM his last year, with no optional buyout. Crawford is a nice player, certainly more of a running threat than Markakis. But Markakis has higher career BA, OBP, and Slugging. I expect Crawford to rebound and would be happy to have him on the Orioles, but not at those terms.

[CA-ORIOLE]

If Crawford had the arm to play center field he would have been in center field this whole time.

Unless Crawford can steal a lot of bases at a high success rate he doesn't have the bat to be a premier corner outfielder, which is what he is being paid to be.

I'm pretty well aware his arm is an issue (why I put "maybe we look at"), but I'm not sure that he can't be effective out there. There were other good options to play CF over Crawford in TB and this year in BOS. In any event, he would improve the OF whether in CF or LF.

Unless Crawford can steal a lot of bases at a high success rate he doesn't have the bat to be a premier corner outfielder, which is what he is being paid to be.

When you provide 17 plus on defense it helps. He was certainly a WAR machine for quite a while.

[sangar]

Taking Crawford would help Boston far more than it would help us, no thanks. They chose to sign an above average player to an albatross contract, let them live with it.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Not with that contract. I can't fathom how anyone would think that was a reasonable deal for the team, any team. People talk about Markakis and his "bad" contract, but he's only scheduled to be maxing out at 17.5MM if the Orioles pick up his option for his age 31 year in 2015. Crawford is signed through his age 35 season in 2015, ranging from 19.5MM in 2012 escalating to 21MM his last year, with no optional buyout. Crawford is a nice player, certainly more of a running threat than Markakis. But Markakis has higher career BA, OBP, and Slugging. I expect Crawford to rebound and would be happy to have him on the Orioles, but not at those terms.

Say we can get the rest of the contract down to 6/100 ?

[Moose Milligan]

Absolutely not. Never understood the hype for a leadoff with a .330ish on base percentage.

[CSB Jack]

Say we can get the rest of the contract down to 6/100 ?

If it got down to 6/90 I'd be tempted. Then it would depend on what it would take in trade.

[El Gordo]

I think Crawford would do well in the OPACY LF I don't think there are any mystery park factors out there and he could bat number 2 in our lineuup where he is most comfortable,. If they would eat some of his salary I'd gladly trade Reimold for him. Hell I'd throw in Kevin Gregg for free. :laughlol:

[CA-ORIOLE]

I think Crawford would do well in the OPACY LF I don't think there are any mystery park factors out there and he could bat number 2 in our lineuup where he is most comfortable,. If they would eat some of his salary I'd gladly trade Reimold for him. Hell I'd throw in Kevin Gregg for free. :laughlol:

I was thinking about Kevin Gregg myself.

[Boston Dave]

I'd consider it, and have advocated for such. But it would come at a price so tough for the RSox to swallow I doubt they'd bite. I would basically give them nothing, and they would give us Crawford and a boatload of cash. Or, we take Crawford, lesser money, and a very nice second piece (say, I don't know, Lester?) and we add Adam Jones. Either way, it ain't happening.

[El Gordo]

I was thinking about Kevin Gregg myself.

I try to never think about him but sometimes like a bad breakfast he just comes up.

[mweb]

That contract is so crazy bad considering the season he just had that they would have to eat an absurd amount. Like 50 million. And then they would have to take Gregg in exchange for him.