How about this: Crawford for Vernon Wells

[Orange Juiced]

From the mlb trade rumors site: "The Angels are telling teams they’d rather trade Vernon Wells than keep him when he returns from the disabled list. They’re looking for a trade partner and saying they don’t want to eat all of his salary, Stark reports. It’ll be challenging to find a taker for Wells’ salary; he earns $21MM per season through 2014."

 

Ok. So do Crawford for Wells, straight-up.

 

Crawford's contract: $122 million from 2012-2017

Wells' contract: $61 million from 2012-2014

 

Wells at this point still is possibly a better Fenway hitter than Crawford is, and he'd be fine in the small LF. Crawford, meanwhile, would probably do better in a larger ballpark where he could use his speed more. I could see him flourishing under Scioscia. It would give the Sox a little more pop from the right side, and it would free them up financially some 3 years earlier.

 

I know that Wells isn't a very good baseball player anymore and he makes a ridiculous salary. But again, it gets them out from under the albatross three years early. And here are last year's stats, just for comparison:

 

Wells: .218/.248/.412/.660, 83 ops+, 25 hr, 66 rbi, 9 sb

Crawford: .255/.289/.405/.694, 83 ops+, 11 hr, 56 rbi, 18 sb

 

It's not clear to me that Crawford at this point is a better fit for Boston. Those OBP numbers are hideous for either guy, but if you want to get rid of garbage, you're going to need to take garbage in return. At least Wells can still drive the ball and his contract is three years shorter.

[cbbosox]

Sounds good to me but doubt the Angles would do it unless they got something else also

[a700hitter]

Sounds good to me but doubt the Angles would do it unless they got something else also

Maybe they would do it if the Sox would eat the difference.

[TutGadol]

I really don't like this.

I think it's too early to give up on CC. He used to be such a great player and the well might not be empty. With Wells we are getting nothing, there is no way he starts producing now, he is a replacement level player. If they signed CC for this contract they need to show some belief in him, give him this season, it's not like there is much to lose and his trade value right now is at an all time low. This season could be used to figure out what's up with CC and all the replacements who are overproducing.

[kapsis21]

angels outfield is packed with RHH hitters, maybe worth a shot i think. and he definitely will become a better hitter under Sciosia ..

but it doesnt help us in the long run, we are just getting out of monitory value for him. Wells has no guarantee, we know atleast Crawford might be able to rebound.. and still a threat for stealing

[NativeBostonian]

I wouldn't do it because of the age. Three years is a lot in baseball (the age difference between the two).

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe they would do it if the Sox would eat the difference.

 

Wouldn't that mean we get a couple of years of Wells for about $100 million?

[italstallianion]

I'd do it just because we'd get out of the contract, add a RH bat (with more power) and be over with the contract 3 years earlier. Since Crawford is younger and in my opinion is a much more "Angels mold" type player (can steal bases, good defense etc) I think the Angels would like him.

 

And since we're taking a really bad contract off of their hands and giving them a better player (albeit a heavier contract) I don't think we'd have to throw in salary relief or prospects.

 

I think that Wells might have more fun with the Green Monster than Crawford. Since this season is lost, I'm thinking about what's best for the franchise, and I think shedding Crawford's lousy contract is worth taking on Wells. We might even have a better shot at offering Ellsbury a lousy long term contract.

[NativeBostonian]

It also looks like Wells has been on a down slide since 2007 when he only hit .245 with 16 HR. I don't want a guy that is past peek years on a down slide.

[a700hitter]

Wouldn't that mean we get a couple of years of Wells for about $100 million?

Yes, it would be a major hit.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

I wouldn't make that trade, but I am one of the few who believe that Crawford will be a plus for the Sox. Not trying to start a flame war. Just feel he will start producing at the level that we thought he would when he was signed.

[jacksonianmarch]

Crawford is showing his fragile psyche, something a ballplayer in Boston cannot have. He's also showing his fragile frame, something any ballplayer cannot have. The sox need to try and get everything they can get out of him for next season. If he comes out and hits .300 with 40 steals, 15HR and 20 triples again, then they either keep him and love it, or they'd have a market where they dont have to trade him for a guy who cannot do anything anymore. But they seem intent on continuing the charade that he isnt hurt in the OF when his manager removes him for defense in the 6th inning of games. Just a joke. Management is f***ing themselves in the ass with this one

 

btw, TJS is a 6-8 month injury for a position player. If it does take 8 months, then he'd be back by March 28th if he had the surgery now. The further they delay, the likelier it gets that he misses real time in 2013

[Bellhorn04]

Crawford's going to be shelved soon and get his operation done. Then in upcoming months we'll be treated to a bunch of stories on how excited he is for next year and how we're going to get to see the 'real Carl Crawford'.

[Thunder]

How about Crawford and Beckett for Strasburg and Harper? Actually, Gio Gonzalez is the best pitcher on the Nats.

[Big Papis Ghost]

How about Crawford and Beckett for Strasburg and Harper? Actually' date=' Gio Gonzalez is the best pitcher on the Nats.[/quote']

 

Yeah like thats ever gonna happen !:thumbsup:

[SoxSport]

Crawford's going to be shelved soon and get his operation done. Then in upcoming months we'll be treated to a bunch of stories on how excited he is for next year and how we're going to get to see the 'real Carl Crawford'.

 

Yeah--and when he comes back, he'll spend a month in the gulf coast league and two weeks in pawtucket. Then he'll come back and rest every 4th game in Boston for 3 months.

[jung]

I suspect the only reason Crawford is playing now is in some hope that he will be attractive to somebody as a player to help take somebody into the post season....Good luck with that Sox....if anything Carl has made his new stance appear irrelevant regarding his issues from last year. Sure he turned on one of Hughes monster mistake pitches last night and jerked one out of that band box New York calls a stadium but he is still toast to anything on the outer third and cannot even see what is and what is not a strike out there even from a RH pitcher!

 

Carl is much like most of the Sox hitters....big holes in their strike zones.