The St. Louis Cardinals added a veteran infielder on Tuesday. St. Louis signed longtime San Francisco Giants star Brandon Crawford, a move that hopes to bolster the team as they barrel toward the start of the year.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Cardinals announced the arrival of the three-time All-Star Crawford. They noted his many accomplishments, which included two World Series championships with the Giants in 2012 and 2014.
“We have signed SS Brandon Crawford to a one-year contract for the 2024 season,” the Cardinals announced.
We have signed SS Brandon Crawford to a one-year contract for the 2024 season.
Crawford, a three-time All-Star, played the past 13 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, where he won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, one Silver Slugger Award and two World Series titles.… pic.twitter.com/7zz1j5Hvp5
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 27, 2024
Veteran MLB reporter Susan Slusser reported the Crawford-Cardinals deal was worth $2 million.
I’m told Brandon Crawford’s deal is worth $2 million. Also: good luck to Brandon in St. Louis, he was a pleasure to cover, and he and his family will be missed around the ballpark. Here’s hoping when he’s done with playing he returns to the Giants org in some capacity.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 27, 2024
Crawford has seen some diminishing returns lately since he last made the National League All-Star team in 2021. In 2022, he hit .231/.308/.344, and then, last season, played in just 93 games. He hit .194/.273/.314 for an OPS of .587, the lowest he recorded in a single season since his rookie year in 2011.
Crawford made the NL All-Star team in 2021, 2018, and 2015 with the Giants. In 2016, he led Major League Baseball in triples with 11 that season. Statistically, his best season probably came in 2021. He hit .298 and recorded an OPS of .895. He also added 24 home runs, 30 doubles, and 144 total hits to a brilliant season.
It will be different to see Crawford, who played 13 years by the Bay, in a different uniform. Such is life in the wide world of sports.
