The Cardinals announced today that infielder Matt Carpenter has been activated from the injured list, while fellow infielder Luken Baker has been called up from Triple-A Memphis. To make room on the roster, the team has optioned outfielder veteran Jordan Walker and granted infielder Brandon Crawford his unconditional release.
Crawford, 37, joined the Cardinals on a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason, serving as veteran insurance for rookie shortstop Masyn Winn. This move made sense at the time, as Winn entered the season with just 37 major league games under his belt, batting .172/.230/.238.
However, in 2024, Winn has lived up to his potential, hitting 11 home runs with a .274/.324/.419 slash line, resulting in a 108 wRC+. His defensive skills have also shined, with 11 Defensive Runs Saved and 3 Outs Above Average at shortstop, alongside 10 stolen bases. FanGraphs credits him with 2.8 wins above replacement, ranking him third among National League rookies, just behind Jackson Merrill and Tyler Fitzgerald.
While Winn has excelled, Crawford has seen limited action, appearing in only 29 games and making 80 plate appearances. In that limited time, he has struggled, striking out at a 32.5% rate and slashing .169/.263/.282 for a wRC+ of 58. This performance isn’t far off from last year, when he hit .194/.273/.314 for the Giants, resulting in a 62 wRC+.
Given Crawford’s struggles and Winn’s rise, the Cardinals have decided to remove Crawford from the roster. Brendan Donovan will likely serve as Winn’s backup at shortstop, while Baker could provide a boost to the lineup after hitting 32 home runs in Triple-A this year with a 14.8% walk rate.
By releasing Crawford instead of placing him on waivers, the Cardinals have given him the opportunity to choose his next steps. His brief stint in St. Louis may become a footnote in the career of the Giants’ legend.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/cardinals-release-brandon-crawford-option-jordan-walker.html
