RaysIndex.com:Could the Rays trade Crawford before deadline?

A post from Cork Gaines over at RaysIndex.com with my thoughts added on at the end.

For all we know, this blogger’s source is the neighbor’s dog named Sam (don’t worry, we are too young to get that reference either). But supposedly the Rays and Giants are having serious discussions that would send Carl Crawford to the Giants for a minor league pitcher.

But not just any prospect. This would be Madison Bumgarner, a 6′4″ lefty, that is only 19 years old and is a combined 9-2 with a 1.66 ERA between high-A and double-A this season. The same pitcher that was ranked by Baseball America as the 9th best prospect in all of baseball before the season.

The Pros: The Rays are $15-20 million over the 2010 payroll and moving CC and his $10.125 million ‘10 option would go a long ways towards keeping the rest of the team intact. Also consider that the Rays have Matt Joyce toiling in triple-A and the Gabe-O’-the-Day platoon in right field has proven to be more than adequate. On top of that, Aki Iwamura is due back in a couple of weeks and Ben Zobrist may need a new home. Could that new home be left field?

The Cons: More than likely, the deal has to be made now. The Giants are not making this deal after the season. On the other hand, the Rays are still a contender this season and no matter how you slice it, the Rays are a better team with Crawford than without.

The Verdict: We see these “rumors” a lot and we ignore most of them, and this one probably falls in the BS pile also. But this rumor brings up an interesting question: Would the Rays being willing to sacrifice a couple of wins this season (see comments) for the possibility of improving the ballclub over the next few years?

And if the Rays are willing to move CC now, this particular trade scenario has Andrew Friedman written all over it. Trading an expensive contract a year too soon, as opposed to a year too late, for a top pitching prospect? If the Rays have a philosophy, it is that you can never have too much cheap, young talent and you can never have too much pitching.

If this deal is indeed on the table (probably not), the Rays need to seriously consider it, even if it risks weakening the Rays for the next two months.

My Take:

I think moving Crawford would be a grave mistake for the Rays for a few reasons.

• SENTIMENTAL: Crawford is a fan favorite. He has been with the franchise through the good AND bad times, so fan morale would be at low point for who knows how long.
• STATISTICAL: Crawford is leading the AL in steals and is a lock to hit above .300 each and every year. Couple that with the fact that he is a force in the outfield and catches everything that comes near him.
• RISK: So, let’s say Crawford gets traded for a top pitching prospect like Bumgarner, and Bumgarner turns out to never make the bigs. Or at best, makes the bigs and is a number 5 guy…it is safe to say that Crawford will continue to put up great batting averages each year, and could potentially lead the league in steals each year. That is a hall of fame career in the making. It takes much more for a pitcher to put up Hall of Fame type statistics. Odds are, Crawford pays off long term.
• FINANCIAL:Yea, CC is set to make bank next year, and the main if not only reason he is even coming up in rumors is as a cost saving move…so…what happens if Bumgarner DOES turn out to be a star…hes not going to yield an even higher payday than what CC is set to make?

Don’t know what will happen, but I will say this…I will be one sad Rays fan the day we see Carl Crawford leave the team.