Crawford signed; now onto pitching
Five years into his big-league career, Brandon Crawford already has two World Series rings. By his reckoning, he should have three more with the Giants by the end of the six-year, $75 million contract he just signed.
“Three more even years,” Crawford said with a grin toward the end of a news conference Wednesday at which both team and player made it clear this long-term commitment was a no-brainer.
Crawford said the full notrade clause was “one of the biggest parts of the contract for me.” His agent, Joel Wolfe, said a deal of this length without the clause “would have been tough.”
“Growing up a Giants fan, I thought it was a dream come true just to get drafted by this organization,” Crawford said. “To have the opportunity to play in the big leagues and win a couple of World Series in that time, I didn’t really think it could get a whole lot better.
“I think that made the decision pretty easy to stay with this team and this organization for the next six years.”
The front office believes it has signed “arguably the best shortstop in baseball,” in the words of executive vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean, who also said that Crawford being “homegrown and native-born” was another persuasive argument, as was Crawford’s work ethic.
When general manager Bobby Evans walked from his office to the clubhouse at AT&T Park on Tuesday to tell Crawford he passed his physical and the deal was sealed, he found his 28-year-old shortstop pumping iron in the weight room.
For manager Bruce Bochy, “It’s always a good day when you sign your shortstop who just made the All-Star team, got a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger.”
The sides discussed a longterm deal last offseason but did not get far. Crawford’s performance in 2015, particularly at the plate, certainly cost the club a few bucks. But $75 million for six years might prove to be a bargain, given the ceaseless rise in free-agent salaries, assuming Crawford continues to improve at the plate while maintaining his defense.
With this deal done, the Giants move into the non-bargain phase of the offseason as they try to bolster their rotation through free agency.
Evans has held extensive trade talks but found that most teams want young majorleague-ready players, such as Matt Duffy and Joe Panik. Evans would prefer to deal prospects and said a few potential deals like that are out there.
The market for top-level starters such as David Price, Zack Greinke and Jordan Zimmermann typically moves slowly. Without mentioning any free agent specifically, Evans said he is providing agents with all the information they seek, be it a range of potential dollars and years, or actual offers.
As for one of the key players already wearing the orange and black, Evans said he and Brandon Belt have touched base on a possible long-term deal. Evans does not foresee such a deal before spring training, or even 2017.
Evans insisted, though, the Giants are not worried about Belt’s health, saying they have gotten nothing but good news on the first baseman’s recovery from a concussion.
The Giants might be leaving open the possibility of trading Belt for pitching, but Evans downplayed that notion as well as rumors that he would deal Belt and sign a big-hitting free-agent first baseman such as Chris Davis.