The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have closed a seven-year, $142M deal with free agent Carl Crawford. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is also reporting the deal.
Carl Crawford Signs Seven-Year Deal With Boston Red Sox, According To Source
Red Sox blog Over The Monster is shocked by the stealthiness of the deal.
If this is true, then I'm almost as shocked by the stealth with which this was accomplished as by the figures of the signing itself. Even the very quiet John Lackey deal was caught when Lackey came to town for a physical. Just earlier today, at least one source was reporting that Crawford was almost guaranteed to sign with the Angels.
While Carl Crawford has the "young player" type of skills that don't tend to decline as quickly, seven years is still a long contract, and at $20 million per year, the Sox are putting a heavy investment in a player whose best skill is limited by their home park. Sort of the opposite of the Adrian Gonzalez deal.
The deal would make Crawford the highest-paid outfielder of all-time and the contract is the ninth-biggest in MLB history. Crawford hit .307 with 19 HRs, 90 RBI, and 47 steals in 2010.
And so, the rich get richer. Keep an eye here and on SB Nation Boston for updates.
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