After Carlos Correa’s ordeal for Giants, short-sighted Brandon Crawford in 2023: ‘I’m happy’
The most decorated shortstop in San Francisco Giants history, Brandon Crawford may have the right to be critical in the wake of Carlos Correa’s stance following the organization’s $350 million offer for a man who would take over. On Friday, however, Crawford characteristically took the high road in his comments to The Chronicle.
In a wild series of events early this week with Correa’s prospective signing to the Giants, the team notified Crawford that he was moving to another position, only to have Correa’s offer taken off the table due to an issue with his physical exam.
That made Crawford, a four-time Gold Glover Award winner, three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion — and the player who finished fourth in National League MVP voting two years ago — the Giants’ stopping point again.
Admittedly, he was surprised by the circumstances, and Crawford was willing to adapt accordingly.
“The bottom line is, my feelings in all of this really don’t matter,” he said via text. “Was I a little surprised when you found out about the agreement? Yes, absolutely.
“Are you more surprised to learn that (Corea) didn’t sign with us and sign with the Mets? Absolutely. We would have been a better team with a player of his caliber no matter my league.”
The Giants postponed and then canceled a Tuesday morning press conference to introduce Korea. The free agent, his family and managers gathered in San Francisco to officially announce the 13-year deal. Correa even went home shopping in Lafayette.
But after Corea’s camp heard the Giants were considering re-consideration, his agent, Scott Boras, began looking elsewhere and quickly found a 12-year, $315 million deal with the New York Mets. On Thursday, Correa had a physical with the Mets, for whom he would move to third base to accommodate his friend, who was close quarterback Francisco Lindor.
Crawford is very popular with fans and usually spends more time signing autographs than any of his teammates. He put his team first when he agreed to change positions in anticipation of Korea’s addition, and even helped hire Aaron Judge when the Giants offered their $360 million stadium to MLS MVP, another player who has settled on New York as his destination.
Many Giants fans on social media expressed their support for Crawford throughout the Korea mayhem and their relief in watching him play another season at shortstop, the only position he played in his 12-year career in the majors.
“There’s no reason to speculate what that would be like at this point,” Crawford texted. “Personally, yes, I’m glad I’m staying short because that’s the only position I’ve ever played at a big-league level, but also because I still feel like I can do it very well.
We’ve also added a few other pieces in the last few weeks that I’m confident will help us compete in 2023 and beyond. We are a better team today than we were a month ago.”
The Giants have yet to make team officials, including Chief of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi or someone from ownership, available to present their side of the decision to let Corea go, but it came out on Friday that they had agreed to contracts with two other free agents, outfielder Michael Conforto and Redeemer Taylor Rogers.
Earlier, the Giants signed outfielder Mitch Hanegger and pitchers Shawn Manea and Ross Stripling.
Crawford, who turns 36 in January, enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2021, hitting a career-high OPS and earning his fourth Gold Glove, but he was held back last season in part by injuries, including a sore left knee that sent Twice. He is on the injured list. The lockout of owners last winter prevented Crawford from preparing normally for the season with the team’s coaches and coaches, which he benefited from entering the productive 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In the final weeks of last season, as his knee improved, Crawford played defense like an old Gold Glove, making several impressive plays with his range, glove, and arm.
When asked in September if he would consider moving positions if the Giants went down with the big money, Crawford said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I wouldn’t speculate. Nothing’s changed. I still plan to play shortstop next year.”
Indeed, now that appears to be the plan.
John Shea is the San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey
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