When the Los Angeles Dodgers completed the blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox in August of 2012, the focal point of the deal was Adrian Gonzalez. Los Angeles also received Josh Beckett and Nick Punto, and Carl Crawford who was on the disabled list at the time.
He appeared in just 31 games that season and underwent Tommy John surgery a few days prior to being traded. Crawford was only in the second year of a seven-year, $142 million contract signed with the Red Sox.
He struggled in his first season with the team and grew to develop a hatred for the city of Boston. A change of scenery came with wishful thinking for Crawford and the Dodgers.
Although he was entering the wrong side of 30 years old, there was hope Crawford would be able to recapture some of the dynamic form seen during his days with the Tampa Bay Rays.
That never quite manifested, and in reflecting on his time with the Dodgers, the retired outfielder expressed regret he failed to produce, via Scott Miller of Bleacher Report:
“I wish I could have performed better there, because I really liked L.A.,” Crawford says. “I just wish I could have played some of my prime years there. I gave them what I had, but it’s still just frustrating when you can’t do what you want to do.”
Crawford also said he views the Dodgers in high regard because of the opportunity they afforded him:
“I still got love for that organization,” he says. “They saved me at a time when I felt I was just going to collapse as a human, break down as a human. That’s why I’ll always have love for L.A., because that city just really brought me back to life.”
Crawford hit .278/.320/.400 with 55 doubles, nine triples, 18 home runs and 99 RBI in 320 games over parts of four seasons with the Dodgers. His best campaign came in 2014, when Crawford batted .300/.339/.429 with 14 doubles, eight home runs and 46 RBI in 105 games.
He single-season high in game played was 116, set in 2013. He only appeared in 30 games in 2016 prior to being released by the organization. He never looked the part of a healthy player that season and hit a lowly .185/.230/.235 with two doubles and six RBI.
This season is the last the Dodgers remained on the hook for Crawford’s contract.
