The Los Angeles Dodgers designated outfielder Carl Crawford for assignment and recalled infielder/catcher Austin Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Sunday’s series finale with the Atlanta Braves.
Crawford hit .278/.320/.400 with 55 doubles, nine triples, 18 home runs, 99 RBIs and 48 stolen bases in 320 games over parts of four seasons with the Dodgers. He’s owed just over $13 million this season and $21 million in 2017.
The Dodgers figure to be on the hook for his remaining salary given it’s extremely unlikely another club will claim Crawford. He was acquired by Los Angeles, along with Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto, in the August 2012 mega trade with the Boston Red Sox that added more than $250 million in salary to the Dodgers’ books.
Crawford suffered a back injury in April that forced him to the disabled list. He never looked the part of a healthy player, batting .185/.230/.235 with two doubles, six RBIs, a .208 wOBA and 27 wRC+ in 30 games. His opportunity for playing time was further diminished by the emergence of Trayce Thompson.
Although Crawford’s tenure with the Dodgers comes to a rocky ending, he played well in 2014 and was among the club’s better hitters during the 2013 National League Division Series and NL Championship Series, and the 2014 NLDS.
Crawford joins Alex Guerrero as notable players the Dodgers have designated for assignment this season. Barnes’ arrival may be in response to Yasmani Grandal dealing with a lingering hand issue. “There was a little something with his hand that was bothering him a little bit,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday.
“I think it happened in Toronto when he got it, but I don’t know how serious it is.” Barnes hit .306/.413/.375 over 37 games with Oklahoma City, spending time at catcher, second base, third base and center field.
