By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – For the first time in his 13-year major-league career, Brandon Crawford put on the colors of a team other than the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, then stepped in front of a mirror.
He saw his reflection wearing a Cardinals T-shirt and a headband.
“It looked a little different,” Crawford said, “but I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited.”
The Cardinals made the signing of Crawford official after he passed a physical and expect him to join the team for Wednesday’s workout. To make room for Crawford on the 40-man roster Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment.
The decision to sign the 37-yer-old Crawford happened quickly although the team had been thinking for a while of how they could improve their depth at shortstop.
Other than rookie Masyn Winn and Tommy Edman, who the team wants to keep in center field, the Cardinals did not have a player expected to be on their roster who had much familiarity at the position.
Crawford, a four-time Gold Glove winner, also will be able to serve as a mentor and sounding board for Winn, which he understood would be part of his role.
“I’m here to help him out any way that I can,” Crawford said. “I’ve always liked the Cardinals organization from across the field and they were one of a couple of teams that I would have come out to spring training in Florida for.”
Crawford, a Bay Area native who now lives in Arizona, had considering retiring this winter but said he was encouraged to keep playing by his kids.
“They were probably the biggest motivating factor,” Crawford said. “I did kind of have some conversations with them throughout the off-season, like why specifically do you want me to keep playing?
“My eight-year-old is a huge baseball fan so he knew that if I wasn’t playing any more he wouldn’t go to as many games. I think he also likes watching me play.”
Another factor to continue playing, Crawford said, was to try to erase the memory of an injured-filled 2023 season, when he played in just 93 games and posted a .194 average.
John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, said he can foresee Crawford filling a valuable role on the team, similar to the role Matt Carpenter is expected to fill with some of the team’s young hitters.
“It was something we had been thinking about just to make sure we had some depth there,” Mozeliak said, “but also bringing in somebody with his resume and what he’s been able to accomplish we think he will be a great resource for Masyn as he continues to develop.
“Let’s be very clear: This (shortstop) is Masyn’s job. We brought in Brandon just to give us that protection should something happen. He understands that role and we are excited.”
The Cardinals don’t know when Crawford will be able to play in a game this spring but just want him ready for the start of the regular season on March 28. As he looked at the Cardinals’ schedule, Crawford also couldn’t help but notice where the team will play to end the season – San Francisco, which could be the final weekend of his career, back in his hometown, where he was a three-time All-Star and part of two World Series winning teams.
“I’ve always been a fan of his because he’s always played the game the right way,” Mozeliak said. “He was a member of some really successful teams and some teams that beat us, but I just think he was one of those guys who went about his business and knew how to be successful.
“Now he’s part of this team and this organization and our expectations are that he can help us continue to win.”
Crawford knows he soon is going to have to outfit his five kids in new Cardinals clothes but he doesn’t see that as a problem.
“My wife has never been opposed to buying,” he said.
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