Crawford Steps Up: Mariners Vet Moves To Third For The Team
Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford isn't waiting for permission to do what's right. The veteran infielder approached manager Dan Wilson this weekend about getting work at third base, taking grounders at the hot corner before today's game. His agent ran the idea past general manager Justin Hollander, and everyone's on board to see how it plays out.
Emerson's Arrival Changes The Game
Crawford's willingness to slide over comes at the right time. Top prospect Colt Emerson just hit the majors, and the kid's already making noise. The Mariners locked up the 20-year-old with a record-setting eight-year, $95 million deal before he even took a single at-bat in the bigs. Emerson made his debut this week and promptly launched a three-run homer over the right field fence for his first major league hit. That's the American dream in action. Work hard, earn your shot, deliver when it counts.
Baseball America ranks Emerson as the third-best prospect in the entire game. The 2023 first-round pick has played both shortstop and third base in his first three games, but he's spent the vast majority of his career at short. The Mariners see him as their guy at that position well into the 2030s, especially with Crawford set to hit free agency after this season.
A Smart Move For Crawford
From Crawford's perspective, this is just good business. It's a team-first move that lets Emerson settle into his natural spot, but it also makes Crawford more valuable. His defensive numbers at shortstop have slipped over the past season-plus. If he can prove himself at third base, he becomes a more attractive option on the open market. That's called earning your keep, and it's exactly the kind of self-reliance this country was built on.
Third base isn't totally foreign to Crawford. He logged 174 innings there back in 2017-18 with the Phillies, the team that originally drafted him, plus another 78 innings in the minors. It's been a while, but the experience is there.
What About Donovan?
A permanent move to third might not happen just yet. The Mariners put Brendan Donovan on the 10-day injured list this week with a groin strain. He'll be shut down for two to three weeks before resuming baseball activity, but it shouldn't be a long-term absence.
When Donovan returns, he could slide right back into third base. He's also comfortable at second base and the outfield corners. Cole Young has been decent at second but hasn't locked down the position. Outfield and DH options like Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley have solid season numbers but are cooling off after hot starts. There are plenty of scenarios where Donovan factors in somewhere other than third.
Crawford's Numbers Tell The Real Story
Crawford, 31, is in the final year of a five-year, $51 million contract. He missed time early with a shoulder injury and has been dealing with a triceps issue recently, though it won't send him to the injured list. He was scratched a couple hours before first pitch today.
His .210 batting average looks rough on the surface, but dig deeper and the picture changes. Crawford's walking at a career-best 16.5% rate, pushing his on-base percentage to .358. His batting average on balls in play sits at .220, about 70 points below league average and well under his own career .293 mark. He's striking out less than ever at 15.9%, which is actually lower than his walk rate. Statcast shows an expected .256 average and .418 slugging percentage, meaning better days are likely ahead.
The numbers don't lie. Crawford's batted-ball metrics and bat speed match his career norms. Sometimes the ball just doesn't fall your way. But real competitors don't make excuses. They adapt, they work, and they find a way to contribute. That's exactly what Crawford is doing by volunteering to move to third base.