Roche: Sox Make Splash With Crawford, Gonzalez
BOSTON (CBS) -- If the Red Sox were looking to make a splash, they've certainly done it this off-season.
First, Adrian Gonzalez in a trade and now Carl Crawford.
An MLB source confirmed to WBZ-TV's Dan Roche that the Red Sox and Crawford have agreed to a seven-year $142 million deal.
He is scheduled to undergo a physical Friday in Boston and the deal should be finalized that afternoon or evening.
Crawford is only 29 (turns 30 next August). He plays great defense and comes in off a season where he hit .307 with 19 HRs, 90 RBI, 110 runs, 13 triples, and 46 stolen bases. He carried an OBP of .356 and a SLG% of .495.
Crawford can hit anywhere in the order for Boston. He could hit in the middle of the order with Adrian Gonzalez or in the lead-off spot. Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Crawford, Ortiz, Youkilis, Drew, etc.... This Sox order just improved remarkably in one week.
Also, Roche was told by an MLB Source that the Sox did not make a seven-year lowball offer to Cliff Lee in order to deflect attention away from the Crawford negotiations.
Here's some numbers on Crawford....
In 2010, Crawford in 408 at-bats out of the two hole….hit .299 with 12 HRS, 58 RBI, a .353 OBP, and a SLG% of .480.
Out of the 3-hole with 192 at-bats(or about half of the 2nd spot)…he hit .323 with 7 HR, 32 RBI, with a .364 OBP and a SLG% of .526.
Crawford is a game changer. And, the Red Sox got two of those in a matter of a few days.
