Brandon Crawford, the most decorated shortstop in
San Francisco Giants
history, might have a right to be critical in the wake of the
Carlos Correa situation
after the organization’s $350 million offer to a man who would have taken over his position. But on Friday, Crawford characteristically took the high road in his comments to The Chronicle.
In a wild series of events early this week with the Giants’ anticipated signing Correa, the team informed Crawford he would be moving to another position, only to take the Correa offer off the table because of an issue with his physical exam.
That made Crawford, a four-time Gold Glover, three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion — and a player who finished fourth in National League MVP voting two years ago — the Giants’ shortstop again.
Admittedly surprised by the circumstances, Crawford was willing to adjust accordingly.
“Bottom line is my feelings in all this don’t really matter,” he said via text. “Was I a little caught off guard when I found out about the agreement? Yes, definitely.
“Was I even more surprised when I found out (Correa) was not signing with us and signing with the Mets? Totally. We would’ve been a better team with a player of his caliber no matter what my role would’ve been.”
The Giants postponed and then canceled a Tuesday morning news conference to introduce Correa. The free agent, his family and his business managers had gathered in San Francisco for the formal announcement of the 13-year deal. Correa even
went house-shopping in Lafayette.
But after the Correa camp heard the Giants were having second thoughts, 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 his physical with the Mets, for whom he’ll move to third base to accommodate his friend, shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Crawford has been immensely popular among fans and usually spends more time signing autographs than any of his teammates. He put his team first when agreeing to change positions anticipating the addition of Correa, and even helped with the recruitment of Aaron Judge when the Giants made their $360 million pitch to the American League MVP, another player settling on New York as his destination.
Many Giants fans on social media expressed their support for Crawford throughout the Correa chaos and comfort with watching him play another season at shortstop, the only position he has played in his 12-year career in the majors.
“No reason to speculate on what that would’ve been at this point,” Crawford texted. “Personally, yes, I’m happy I will remain at shortstop partly because that’s the only position I’ve played at the big-league level, but also because I still feel like I can do it very well.
“We’ve also added some other pieces these last few weeks that I am confident will help us compete in 2023 and beyond. We’re a better team today than we were a month ago.”
The Giants have yet to make team officials, including president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi or anyone from ownership, available to provide their side of the decision to let Correa walk away, but Friday came word that they
agreed to contracts with two other free agents, outfielder Michael Conforto and reliever Taylor Rogers.
Earlier, the Giants signed outfielder
Mitch Haniger
and pitchers
Sean Manaea
and
Ross Stripling.
Crawford, who turns 36 in January, enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2021, posting a career high in OPS and earning his fourth Gold Glove, but took a step back last season partly because of injuries, including an inflamed left knee that twice sent him to the injured list. Last winter’s owners’ lockout prevented Crawford from making his normal preseason preparation with team coaches and trainers, from which he benefited entering his productive 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In the final weeks of last season, with his knee feeling better, Crawford played defense more like his old Gold Glove self, making many outstanding plays with his range, glove and arm.
When asked in September if he would consider moving positions if the Giants landed a big-money shortstop, Crawford had said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’m not going to speculate. Nothing has changed. I still plan on playing shortstop next year.”
That, indeed, now seems to be the plan.
John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey
