Red Sox Get Carl Crawford

The Red Sox have come to an agreement with Tampa Bay Rays left-fielder Carl Crawford on a 7-year deal worth a snazzy $142 million.  This according to a report by MLB Rumors of this tweet via Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. Looks like Red Sox Nation was hell bent on outdoing the Yankees at these Winter Meetings by attemting to make the biggest splash this offseason. I say attempting because no deal made this free agency will trump that of whoever wins the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, and bets are that it will be the Yankees.

It's been said throughout the blogosphere and sports pages recently that Crawford was to be the Yankees plan B if the Cliff Lee deal fell through. During the Winter Meetings, many sportswriters said the expectation was that Crawford would wait until a Lee deal was done because that would put the Yankees in the mix to bid for him and we all know that the Yankees would have won that bid war. Crawford would be the only free-agent left that would make a significant impact on the Yankees status in the AL East. But, perhaps Crawford was ready to get a deal done; he was probably willing to go to either team as the Red Sox and Yankees are always expected to top the AL east and make a run for the World Series Championship. The deal makes Crawford the highest paid outfielder in history.

Should Bomber fanatics be at all shaken by this news? I don't think so. Sure Crawford is a superstar and a sure bet as he has no problems physically and has yet to show any signs that his speed is causing wear and tear. But the Red Sox are working with a lot of maybes right now. Maybe Jacoby Ellsbury will be back to his true form and stay injury-free in 2011; maybe Adrian Gonzalez will rehab well from shoulder surgery and be ready for Spring Training;  maybe Big Papi will have another season worthy of his player option being picked up for next year; maybe Jonathan Papelbon will decrease the number of blown saves next year and get back to an ERA of below 2. Maybe, maybe, maybe. There's no real assurance that Crawford's signing means Red Sox domination in 2011. And if the Bombers sign Cliff Lee, we'll have the two top lefties in the AL to neutralize those pesky lefties in Boston's lineup.

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Yankees Talk to Crawford

According to this report from ESPN Boston, the Yankees met extensively Carl Crawford's camp yesterday. Now that the Yankees have finalized contracts with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, they can move forward with plans A and B being Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford, respectively.

Its been assumed by many reporters who are attending the Winter Meetings, that the favorite to possibly land Crawford is the LA Angels because they have the greatest need and would probably go all out to make him a lucrative offer. The Red Sox are also said to be in serious talks with Crawford.

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Crawford on Yankees Radar

With the signing of Mariano Rivera and the now-impending close to the Jeter negotiations drawing near, the Yankees are now apparently setting their sights on Carl Crawford.

According to a report by Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Yankees have reached out to Crawford and want to meet with him. Other clubs who are in serious talks with the left-fielder are the Angels and Red Sox.

Hmmm. The Red Sox. Could the "Evil Empire" be at it again? Could this be retribution for the Red Sox reportedly reaching out to Mariano Rivera before he agreed to his 2-year, $30 million deal with the Yankees? Piracy against Boston's booty is what the Yankees do and do best. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Cashman is sending a "do you really think you can go there with me?" challenge to Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. The "Nation" really put themselves out there by pursuing Mo.

If the Yankees do sign Crawford to what insiders believe may be the highest free agent contract this market, they will most likely trade Brett Gardner or Nick Swisher. I personally don't think the Yankees really need Crawford as the outfield is pretty solid, but I can't argue that the team will be better with him in the lineup.

Follow Rasheeda Cooper on twitter: @ra_cooper