Carl Crawford

by Stealfirstbase on Oct 3, 2006 9:22 AM CDT

Per rotoworld:

"The White Sox are expected to make a play for Carl Crawford, a player Tampa Bay is said to be willing to move this offseason.

Chicago would have to part with one of its six starters, but at least that would open the door for Brandon McCarthy to finally move into the rotation. The Chisox would probably also need to deal one or two prospects."

I've been pushing this idea for some time, and it looks like I was right. The Sox could be going after Crawford this offseason. Personally, I say we can give up just about anyone to get him. Josh Fields and whoever we get for trading Freddy Garcia / Mark Buehrle should do it, if the return on those starters is good--and I think it will be.

We could also toss in Charlie Haeger. Tampa Bay is very interested in pitching.

Good for Kenny Williams, I say. Even if he gives up McCarthy, I can live with the deal. Getting back Crawford is--I think--exactly what this team needs.

Poll

Carl Crawford

Good idea

57 votes

Bad idea

4 votes

Depends on who the organization has to give up

31 votes

92 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Sure, why not?

But would they really want Fields? They are obviously fairly loaded with OF prospects, and they have Longoria for third. I suppose they could stick Fields at first, but then you're greatly reducing his value as a player if you do that.

Would they want any of our starters besides McCarthy?

I suppose a package including prospects obtained from trading Freddy Garcia, Fields, and Haeger might be enough to get it done.

Then again, I might just as soon go after Coco Crisp, who is a bit worse than Crawford, but would probably cost a heckuva lot less.

by CWSKeith on Oct 3, 2006 9:49 AM CDT reply actions

You make a good point

I assume--perhaps wrongly--that the Sox can "raid the pantry" with regards to who they get in return for starting pitching this offseason. The pitching market is as thin as ever, and a year of Freddy Garcia at 10 MM or Mark Buehrle at 9.5 MM will look very good to some contender.

Basically, I think we should be able to get it done. Say, Buehrle to the Cardinals for Reyes, Wainright, whatever.

Wainright, Reyes, and Haeger to the D-Rays for Crawford. Surely they'd accept that deal? If not, then there's no point in talking about Crawford b/c he'd cost too much.

by Stealfirstbase on Oct 3, 2006 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

there's no question

that we'll be able to literally hold someone up for one of our starters. i think the brainstorming on this thread is giving away too much for crawford. if the rays want that much, i'd hope KW would look elsewhere. we are in the far superior bargaining position and we need to exploit it.

by larry on Oct 3, 2006 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

very true

Just looking at the Mets playoff rotation makes me wonder why I laughed at them for thinking about trading for Freddy at mid-season. I'm really warming to Crawford, he's shown legitimate improvement in his five MLB seasons, which nobody else ever does in Tampa. He's also only entering his age 25 season, barely older than BA. The Rays started his clock too early, and he'll get expensive in a hurry, but the kid's got talent. Prior to this season, among his top 10 age 23 comps were Clemente, Rickey and Yaz. That's some heavy company. The Rays have no use for position players in a deal, so we match up well with them if they want a big league pitcher in return. I think they'd take one of our big name starters, and maybe a pitcher prospect (and none of them are terribly good anyway and it can't be McCullough) and try to sell it to the locals as a trade that needed to happen to make the team World Series tough to face NY and BOS. Throw BMac in the rotation and Crawford in for Pods and were a MUCH better team.

by Bull Pain on Oct 3, 2006 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

We could trade Lance Broadway

by Stealfirstbase on Oct 3, 2006 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

of course

Crawford would solve a lot of problems. He is young, solid contract, plays LF and can hit leadoff.

As long as McCarthy & Sweeney don't go in the deal, I'm for it.

AIM: shaftr01

XBL: TheMattressMan

by shaftr on Oct 3, 2006 11:48 AM CDT reply actions

I'd be willing to overpay for Crawford

because he satisfies Ozzie's desire for more speed, which we know Kenny is going to fill somehow. I'd rather that Kenny filled that hole with a player with tons of upside than Juan Pierre or Dave Roberts.

Of course, Ozzie would lead him off, while I would probably bat him #2 behind Iguchi.

I don't think that TB will be willing to take one of our $10M/yr pitchers, but we might be trade one of them for pitching prospects that would be more appealing to the Rays.

It's a long shot, but Crawford would be my #1 if I was in Kenny's shoes.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Oct 3, 2006 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

yeah

i think some sort of three way trade is the way to go.

then again, the d-rays' new owners seem interested in spending money so we might get a surprise.

by larry on Oct 3, 2006 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed...

I'm not wild about Crawford's OBP, but he's continually shown improvement. And I'd much rather see him on the Sox than someone like Endy Chavez or siging Juan Pierre to a big deal.

Looking at the Rays, I think it will take overpaying to get him, and it will have to be almost all pitching. As bad as their bullpen was, they might be willing to trade Crawford for a combination of a young starter and a young RP. The Sox do have 2 "closer-quality" arms in MacDougal and Jenks...but trading one of them would mean finding a pricey replacement somehow.

The Rays would have absolutely all the leverage in the deal, and I I were them I would want something like McCarthy, MacDougal, and a pitching prospect for a player of Crawford's stature.

by hitlesswonder on Oct 3, 2006 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

How about...

McCarthy, Haeger and Broadway?

Or, if they want arms with upside, Jenks, Thorton, or MacDougal in place of McCarthy.

That's realistically all we can offer--pitching wise--that's young and cheap and good. If they want more, we'd either have to pick it up in a trade (like Buehrle to the Cards) or look elsewhere. Chone Figgins might have a good season if we traded for him, or we could try to play the hot hand of Fields, Sweeney and Owens. Yeah, I don't like that idea either.

by Stealfirstbase on Oct 3, 2006 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Too steep for my liking.

I wouldn't want to put up McCarthy for Crawford, and defniitely not Big Bad Bobby

-Jeeves Chi-Sox Blog

by jeeves on Oct 3, 2006 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Id be willing to overpay for Soriano

because he only costs money.
its not like the Sox farm system is overflowing with talent to spare.

Sox in '07

by EricGthee23 on Oct 5, 2006 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Cotts

When does Cotts start to get expensive? I'd assume in the next two years, yes?

Seeing that they're stacked with hitting prospects, the Sox' offer would have to consist pretty much all pitching. Broadway + Haeger + Cotts + Garcia's haul of prospects?

by CWSKeith on Oct 3, 2006 5:56 PM CDT reply actions

Crawford

Honestly i think its going to cost something along the lines of this for CC.

Broadway + Phillips + Fields + Garcia/MB/Jose respective prospects package. I can't see the rays having interest in a knuckler especially with them playing in a dome for half of their games, Chuck has more value to the Sox than the Rays.

The rays are looking to move Upton to the OF, he's athletic enough to play CF, but they've got Rocco there; so like so many other 3B he will be moved to LF where Crawford currently resides. If Upton would've started at 3B from the beginning of the season he was on pace for 43 errors, he had 13 in his stint(48GS). Fields retains if full value at 3B, and Longoria should be able to stick at SS even though hes listed at 6'2 that brings Zorbist to the utility role many have projected for him.

The rays have a good core of up and coming pitchers Wade Davis and Jacob McGee to compliment Kazmir, Broadway + who ever we get for dealing one of our starters should be enough to get Crawford.

The reason Crawford costs so much is because his contract is so friendly and hes locked up till 10 club options.

Anyways just my .02

by beautox on Oct 3, 2006 7:21 PM CDT reply actions

five prospects or more?

no way. that's like half a minor league team you're trading. crawford isn't that good. heck, i don't know many players that are. guidance can be taken from the coco crisp trade; obviously crawford is better but it ain't going to take that much more. and if it does, that's an obvious pass.

by larry on Oct 3, 2006 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't like this... philosophically...

I'm more of the thinking 'keep and develop your guys' and let others give up 10 guys to get one
if you have a hole look for a cheap free agent with upside (or look in japan) and spend your money in pitching...

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
THE PEORIA POUNDER

by The Wizard on Oct 3, 2006 9:08 PM CDT reply actions

BTW, the source of the Rotoworld story...

was from the Daily Herald, and it was Scott Gregor just saying Crawford SHOULD be Williams #1 target, not that he will be...

by Tony82087 on Oct 3, 2006 9:54 PM CDT reply actions

here it is

[Scot Gregor]

Do expect Williams to make a run at Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford, even if the asking price for the outfielder is a front-line starter and top prospect or two.

HEY THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
THE PEORIA POUNDER

by The Wizard on Oct 3, 2006 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions

A better question

Why in the hell are the D-Rays even thinking about trading Crawford? You can build an actual winning club behind him and Delmon Young. Upton is approaching flop level and Elijah Dukes makes Albert Belle look like well, I can't think of a nice ballplayer, but if there was one, it's him. Pitching is needed, but then can address that with money and not players if they are interested in being a winner.

by Bull Pain on Oct 4, 2006 2:04 PM CDT reply actions