The Los Angeles Dodgers are paying Carl Crawford more than $21 million this season, but even that price tag is not enough to prevent them from doing what is needed to help the team. The Dodgers have designated Crawford for assignment. Taking his place on the active roster will be Austin Barnes from the franchise’s triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers today recalled C/IF Austin Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated OF Carl Crawford for assignment.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 5, 2016
Through 30 games this season, Crawford has hit just .185 with three extra-base hits in 87 plate appearances. The fall of Crawford has been a pretty steep one. An all-star in 2010 with a .307 batting average, a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award, Crawford cashed in on his success with the Tampa Bay Rays and signed a big contract with the Boston Red Sox. As Boston was torpedoing the 2011 season away, Los Angeles stepped in to take on the huge contract with the hope of putting together a monster line-up that included Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto. The Dodgers were all in on the move, and it has yet to really pay dividends.
Carl Crawford
35.5 WAR in 1235 games with the Rays
3.4 WAR in 481 games with the Red Sox & Dodgers— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) June 5, 2016
The move could still end up costing the Dodgers in a big way. The Dodgers could have to pay off the remaining $35 million owed to Crawford, as he is signed through the end of the 2017 season in addition to this season. If another team opts to take a flyer on Crawford, they would only have to pay him the league minimum while the Dodgers fulfill the remainder of his salary owed to him. So he can be acquired on the cheap by some team willing to take a chance on him, and the Dodgers would continue to cover his contract. That assumes somebody opts to pick him up.
There's about $35 million left on Carl Crawford's contract (thru 2017) and it's likely #Dodgers will have to pay it all.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) June 5, 2016
