Report of Carl Crawford wanting out of Tampa Bay is false

With trade rumors already circulating about All-Star leftfielder Carl Crawford, now there's an apparently false, unattributed report from the NY Baseball Digest that suggests Crawford wants out of Tampa Bay.

The NY Baseball Digest report, citing an unnamed source, stated that Crawford is upset with the Rays over picking up his 2010 option and allegedly backing out of an agreement to negotiate his potential long-term deal.

The report just doesn't seem to have any merit, as it doesn't match up with what both sides have been saying all along (and as recently as this week).

Crawford's agent, Brian Peters, said earlier this week that they were still looking forward to working on a potential-long term deal with the Rays. That's exactly what Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said when they picked up Crawford's $10 million option on Monday, that both sides were "very interested."

Whether the two sides can work out a deal remains to be seen. But Crawford has shown his interest, and there have been no indications of any animosity from either side.

The report is here..... http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=17698.

That doesn't jibe with what Crawford said in late September, when he expressed interest in working out a long-term deal.

" I hope we can get something done, but if not I'll just go into next season, do what I have to do and try to help the team win and go from there," Crawford said.

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[skp]

Ray, I don't think anyone who's seen Kaz pitch since the 2008 all star break would call Kaz a stud, aside from battling nagging injuries and mental blocks which have clearly cost him his velocity and apparently his (former) best pitch, he is wildly inconsistent\unpredictable and it's a miracle for him to make it into the 6th inning. he was basically starting to look like our 4th best pitcher (at most), and maybe the angels and yankees can pay $20+ mil across 2 years to put up with that, but if you're the rays and you're going to invite struggles from your starting rotation, why not do it with Wade Davis at about 5% of the cost, especially if he's no longer able to be stashed in Durham?

i think anyone who understands the rays organization understands the move kaz, whose appeal was rooted mostly in sentiment and hope by the end

[Rays Renegade]

Some of the NY Mets blogs consider this "digest" a bit of a off-shoot of the truth.
They say a handshake deal was made in 2005. Well,that was before Stu and company even set up shop as the Rays owners. Chuck LaMar might have shaken hands,but Andrew Friedman was not part of that contract.
Plus they have the team stationed in Tampa,not St. Petersburg along with a few other "facts" that are a show of ignorance not good reporting. When was the last time Tampa Bay was in South Florida NYBD? Guess they do not teach Sothern state geography.
Guess the next report will be that the new Rays stadium will be built on islands and can be moved from coast-to-coast to increase attendance.
Opps! might have given them an idea.

[KennyNance]

Please trade Crawford. It would be for the best.

[Ray]

Crawford was upset that the Rays traded Kazmir. He said why would I or anyone want to play in Tampa when they do not keep there stud type players. What is funny about this is the Rays were hinting that by trading Kaz they would have the money to sign CC long term, but CC informed the Rays that he is less apt to sign in Tampa when they fail to keep most of their top line players! CC is no dummy. He will be a very good Red Sox or Yankee. I will miss him!

[TriplePlay]

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