The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big splash with an August 2012 trade, as they added over $250 million in salaries by acquiring Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto from the Boston Red Sox.
At the time of the deal, Crawford was recovering from Tommy John surgery, and at present day, only Gonzalez remains with the organization. Crawford’s and Beckett’s tenure with the Dodgers included ups and downs, with one of the more memorable moments being Beckett’s no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014.
Crawford spent four injury-plagued seasons with the Dodgers, and his lack of production and Trayce Thompson’s emergence forced the organization’s hand into releasing him in June.
That was despite the veteran outfielder being owed nearly $13 million in remaining salary for the year, plus $21 million in 2017.
The Tampa Bay Rays were said to have some interest in signing their former star left fielder, but a deal never came to fruition.
Having only appeared in 30 games last season, the expectation is Crawford is now on the verge of retiring at 35 years old, per Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:
According to one Dodgers official, Crawford has pretty much called it a career. There was some thought he might try to make a comeback, but it appears he’s had enough at age 35.
In 15 seasons with the Dodgers, Red Sox and Rays, Crawford was a four-time All-Star, won a Gold Glove Award, a Silver Slugger, and once finished as high seventh in American League MVP voting.
In 1,716 career games, Crawford batted .290/.330/.435 with 136 home runs, 766 RBIs, 998 runs scored and 480 stolen bases. He played 320 games with the Dodgers and hit .278/.320/.400 with 18 home runs, 99 RBIs, 145 runs scored and 48 stolen bases.
Crawford was a second-round selection by the Rays in 1998 out of Jefferson Davis High School in Houston.
