Crawford Comments Sure to Create Hysteria

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 29, 2008 10:04 PM EDT

Very candid interview with Mr. Ray Carl Crawford by Topkin at the St. Pete Times website, but prepare for hype and depression widespread after this statement:

Had you not signed your long-term deal, you would have been a free agent after this season — do you think much about that?

You think about it, but it's not too much of a big deal. I'm only two more years away, so that's pretty much the same. It's not like I'm going to be broke or nothing (making $5.25-million this season, with options of $8.25-million in 2009 and $10-million in 2010). I just get to play baseball for two more years with these guys and whatever happens, happens. I don't really think about it. I know my time will come one day. I don't regret it at all because I wasn't in a situation to be turning down $32-million.

We all know that unless this team begins winning nobody will want to remain here, so let's try and not read too much into that particular comment, although I'm sure some will. Carl also has some good insight into the clubhouse, his role as a leader, playing with B.J. Upton, and Rocco Baldelli's situation, oh and he apparently had nothing to do with Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes being traded.

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I Agree That...

this isn't anything to read in to. Crawford is a top notch guy and extremely respectable. Plus, he's right, he's just being honest. He'll be, what, 27 years old when he hits the free agent market? Acceptable pop and killer wheels at the age of 27 is a pretty nice spot to be sitting in heading into Free Agency.

I would expect him to be ready for and looking forward to his potential pay day and land with a team who will be more competitive. Not that I don't believe this team isn't competitive, the near future only looks better by the minute.

by mynameistyler on Mar 29, 2008 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

My Mistake...

I didn't realize both of those option years were club options. So, 29 or so when he hits FA. Again, my mistake.

by mynameistyler on Mar 29, 2008 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I see nothing to read into this

He didn't say anything that logic would otherwise dictate, and he didn't really say anything that would indicate he wants to leave here. So far, we've discerned that he wants

1) More money
2) To be on a winning team

RADICAL IDEAS! There is absolutely no reason that this team shouldn't be a better place to "work" from his perspective once his contract is up if the organization is committed. They should be well on their way to winning. If they aren't, then Crawford has every right to depart having put up with nearly a decade of extensive losing.

In addition, a talent of his caliber deserves to be paid a lot of money. He should be looking out for his own interests in that regard.

I see nothing objectionable in what he said, because all he said was that he was looking forward to better conditions under which to work. He isn't predisposed to depart unless we fail to provide him those better conditions. What's the problem?

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Mar 30, 2008 12:21 AM EDT reply actions

Carl being Carl

I don't read much into it either. He's getting a reputation for being pretty honest and forthcoming (ie. Delmon and now this). Most of the rest of the article he was very positive regarding the Rays situation as a whole. Besides, by 2010 we may have another glut of outfielders with any combo of Jennings, Royster, Perez, Jones, etc. hopefully fulfilling their potential.

Jamie DeLuca

by JDeLuca on Mar 30, 2008 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed, regardless of field, whether it's slapping base hits, flipping burgers or being a desk jockey in some cubicle, most anyone who takes pride in their work:
a) wants to be part of a winning and/or successful organization
b) wants and expects competitive compensation, whether it is $15-an-hour or $15 mil.-per-year; if that is the going rate in your field, no matter what anyone says in some hypothetical situation, you will expect top dollar... even if it's "just getting paid to play a kid's game" (or as I see it in baseball: a career with virtually no job security or stability and near constant travel which forces you into retirement by age 35... if you're lucky)

by RATW on Mar 31, 2008 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions

As much as I like Crawford

I don't think its very probable that he stays beyond 2010. If they aren't in contention by next year, we will probably see him traded at some point. Assuming for a second that the Rays are in, or near contention over the next 2 years, chances are that Upton and Kazmir will be looking at huge paydays, and the organization will be forced to choose 2 out of 3. As it stands now, Crawford is a star player no doubt, but that does not mean he will be a player to build around, especially since his current skill set is not one that is likely to age very well.

With all that said, I think it's easy to forget that he is still only 26, and he may surprise us all with a power spike. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he could pull a Steve Finley/Luis Gonzalez.

No matter what, for the here and now, I'm glad we have him, and his leadership on our team. And if we ever get to a position where all of our young players have performed so well they've made themselves unaffordable, then I will celebrate, because it will likely also mean we finally have a winning team.

by GomesSweetGomes on Mar 30, 2008 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

If we're picking two of th three we might be forced to take the outfielders.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 30, 2008 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure

From our perspective we may be forced to make some difficult choices regarding the aforementioned players once Crawford's contract expires. But what I expect is that we will have latitude in making that choice, and that Crawford won't force our hand into getting rid of him because he is disgruntled. I fully believe that he will want to be here come 2010, and whether he stays or not I anticipate will be fully a business decision not dictated by any refusal to stay on his part.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Mar 30, 2008 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I think a person would have to be desperately looking to get hysterical to read anything negative into what Carl said. Of course, there are plenty of people wired that way, and there are plenty of others looking for every opportunity, however nonsensical, to bolster their contempt for the franchise or the new ownership.

But any reasonable reading of the interview would come away with a statement of Crawford's optimism and happiness to be a Ray. Even the segment you quote, while you are absolutely right that some will misread it, is a very positive statement about his contract and his satisfaction.

by bobr on Mar 30, 2008 5:01 PM EDT reply actions