The Giants announced that shortstop Brandon Crawford has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 17, with left knee inflammation. Infielder David Villar was recalled in a corresponding move. Additionally, Bryce Johnson was returned to Sacramento after serving as the club’s “27th man” yesterday.
Crawford, 36, has been dealing with left knee issues on and off for over a year now. He twice went on the injured list due to that knee last summer and was shut down in Spring Training this year as well. Whether it’s due to the lingering knee problems or not, his offensive production has been sliding of late. He was above-average at the plate in 2020 and 2021 but hit .231/.308/.344 last year and is down to .207/.285/.333 here in 2023. His grades from advanced defensive metrics are also at a low ebb this year compared to previous seasons.
Middle infield already stood out as an area for the club to target at the deadline, something that president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi recently admitted after Thairo Estrada landed on the injured list due to a hand fracture. It doesn’t seem as though Crawford is in line for an extended absence, since he was hopeful of avoiding the injured list as recently as yesterday, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Since the move is retroactive, he could potentially return in just over a week. But with the middle infield already being a target area and Crawford’s pesky knee issues cropping back up again, it could perhaps only increase the club’s desire to made an addition. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco recently highlighted some potential names the club could look to bring aboard, though it’s possible the guys on that list capable of playing some shortstop might become higher priorities.
In the meantime, the club figures to use some combination of Villar, Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely to cover the middle infield, though none of that trio is hitting much this year. Villar has slashed .159/.244/.345 while Schmitt has a line of .224/.269/.318 and Wisely is at .198/.241/.307. The Giants are 54-41 and currently hold the top Wild Card spot in the National League, in addition to being just one game back of the Dodgers in the West division. The trade deadline is August 1.
DeJong should be available and truly he should be available even if the Cardinals decide not to sell because Winn is about ready and Edman can play short too Edman doesn’t belong in center.
Trade simulator has DeJongs value at exactly zero. That’s fair imo. You can have him for nothing.
Hahaha
Put Crawford on the 60 day and let him retire.
Heal quickly Thairito and Craw!
Maybe Luciano goes on a tear in AAA and we can just bring him up :)))
Nick Madrigal is perfect for them
As in, he’s a bad player that will cost nothing and those are the guys farhan likes to trade for and sign? I agree.
Ha ha. Still crying I see.
Welcome back.
Love this Crawman, great Giant. It hurts to say but the time has come to hang ‘em up.
Naw, he’s good enough to play out the year. He’s been durable for the most part and while his offense is down, he’s still been giving competitive ABs without the right outcomes. He’s had his few hits in clutch spots. Plus he’s a franchise icon and deserves to finish out his contract
Welcome to San Francisco, Paul DeJong or Harold Castro!
Rumors of Carlson being available as well could make this a pretty good deal. Swing a trade for DeJong and Carlson will sure up the OF defense while putting possibly 2 RH hitters in the lineup v lefties. Cards looking for pitching…good thing Zaidi signed like 4-5 SPs this past offseason.
I didn’t see Arson Judge in the Giants lineup when they came to town. He must be on the IL too.
wow, hilarious and original! you come up with that one all by yourself?
*snore*
It’s been a good career multiple WS wins bunch of GG but I think it’s time that Crawford hangs it up.