According to an insider from the league, the St. Louis Cardinals are in the process of finalizing a deal to bring on board three-time All-Star Brandon Crawford, pending the completion of his physical.
On Monday, Alex Pavlovic from NBC Sports Bay Area verified the information regarding the signing of former Giants shortstop Crawford to a free-agent deal with the Cardinals.
Once the pending physical is completed and the deal is finalized, the 37-year-old Crawford is slated to serve as a backup shortstop behind rookie Masyn Winn, pending further updates on Tommy Edman’s recovery from wrist surgery.
Before this, Crawford had a 13-year tenure in the major leagues with the San Francisco Giants, playing a pivotal role in the team’s World Series championships in 2012 and 2014.
In 2021, Crawford, an All-Star who clinched his fourth Gold Glove, achieved a batting line of .298/.373/.522, smacking 24 home runs and driving in 90 RBIs. He secured the fourth position in the National League MVP award voting.
Yet, in 2022, his performance saw a decline as he appeared in only 93 games last season, primarily due to various injuries, and recorded a batting line of .194/.273/.314.
The Cardinals secured the 13-year MLB veteran after the Giants inked a minor league contract with two-time Gold Glove winner Nick Ahmed.
Confirming his intention to play in the upcoming 2024 season, Crawford’s agent informed The San Francisco Chronicle’s John Shea in November that the 37-year-old was open to extending his career.
The mentioned player is anticipated to vie for a backup infield position, probably supporting rookie shortstop Masyn Winn, a 21-year-old top prospect who concluded the 2023 MLB season in St. Louis.
