Over the weekend, you may have saw or heard that free agent OF Jayson Werth signed a 7 year contract worth $126 million with the Washington Nationals. Shocking, right? There were three big name free agents this off-season, Werth being one of them and the other two are SP Cliff Lee and OF Carl Crawford. In my personal opinion, I expected Crawford to be signed first because he is younger with more tools, but the Nationals proved me wrong by making a big splash and landing a big future piece of their team in Jayson Werth. Now how does that contract affect both Lee and Crawford moving forward? Let's take a look.
Crawford, 29, has spent his entire career with the Tampa Bay Rays and has made a big named for himself. He is capable of hitting for a .300, 15+ home runs and 40+ stolen bases a season. Crawford has good plate discipline, speed in the outfield and on the base path, an above average arm from left field, and now can bring veteran leadership to any clubhouse. Crawford can be a good lead off hitter, but I believe is more suitable for batting 2nd in the lineup because of the types of threats he can bring to any situation. He is the perfect guy to hit and run with due to his bat control, has pop in his bat and drive in runs, and can earn a walk as well. In the outfield, Crawford has been very consistent and reliable which is always a plus too. So should Crawford get the same deal or possibly even a better one than Werth? Then again, who has the money or who is willing to pay that?
In free agent history, not many teams have offered 8 years worth $160 million plus. Those type of numbers really narrow down the list on who is capable of signing Crawford. We all know the Yankees are not afraid to throw around numbers like that. For instance, Jeter signed a 10 year, $189 million contract, A-Rod signed a 10 year, $275 million contract, and Teixeira for 8 years, $180 million. That is insane! Most teams are afraid of offering more than 5 years, let alone 6, but now with the Werth signing, Crawford and Lee can push the ceiling a little bit higher with there offers.
I strongly believe once everything is said and done that Lee will end up back with the Rangers because Lee seems to care more about years than money. Crawford will either end up with the Yankees or the Red Sox. I can't say for sure where he will end up, but the team with the better deal for more years will wind up with the speedy Crawford.
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