Former Giants Shortstop Brandon Crawford Agrees to Join St. Louis Cardinals

Former San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford is set to make a significant move in his baseball career, reportedly agreeing to join the St. Louis Cardinals pending a physical. The news was confirmed by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic on Monday.

The agreement between Crawford and the Cardinals was first reported by The Athletic‘s Katie Woo, showcasing a shift for the veteran player after spending all of his 13 seasons in MLB with the Giants.

This development came shortly after The San Francisco Chronicle‘s Susan Slusser had mentioned that the Cardinals were interested in adding the experienced player to their roster, setting the stage for Crawford’s potential new journey in the MLB.

Following these reports, The St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Derrick Goold indicated, citing a source, that mutual interest was evident, aligning with the growing buzz around Crawford’s move to St. Louis.

The Cardinals are likely eyeing Crawford as a supportive presence and backup shortstop, complementing the young talent of 21-year-old Masyn Winn, projected as the primary shortstop for the team after his standout performance in the 2023 MLB season.

The timing of Crawford’s decision to join the Cardinals aligns with the Giants’ direction of transitioning to younger talent, exemplified by the debut of Marco Luciano as a potential future shortstop in the final game of the 2023 regular season against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Brandon Crawford’s career, marked by consistent contributions and loyalty to the Giants since his debut in 2011, appeared to be heading towards a new chapter rather than a retirement, as hinted by his desire to continue playing in 2024.

Despite fluctuations in his performance in the recent years, the Giants signaled a shift by not actively extending an offer to Crawford, paving the way for the veteran player to explore opportunities with the Cardinals, a team that embraces experienced players.

With the upcoming season shaping up to be an intriguing one for Crawford in a different uniform, fans of the Giants will have to adjust to seeing the beloved shortstop in the distinct Cardinal red for the first time in his illustrious career.