MLB Rumors: Cardinals Signed Brandon Crawford Over 2-Time Gold Glover

Following a lackluster 2023 MLB season, the St. Louis Cardinals aimed to revamp their roster, particularly in the infield.

Initially engaging in talks with Gold Glove-winning shortstop Nick Ahmed, the Cardinals ultimately decided to pursue Brandon Crawford, who's four years older, for middle infield depth.

Despite Ahmed's tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks and his struggles in the previous season due to recovery from shoulder surgery, negotiations failed to materialize, leading him to join the San Francisco Giants.

Even a backup has to perform. Craw is 37 now, played 94 games last year, hit .194 and had a tough year defensively.

Loyalty is nice, but at some point you need to look at a situation logically.

Nick Ahmed looked great at SS the other day and is four years younger.

— CW (@ss29er) March 2, 2024

Meanwhile, Crawford, departing from the Giants after 13 years, brought a wealth of experience, including two World Series wins, four Gold Glove awards, and a reputation as a franchise cornerstone.

That being said, Crawford also struggled with injuries last year and posted a poor .194 batting average over just 93 games played.

Over the past four seasons, the 37-year-old holds a .251/.327/.417 triple-slash line, with 48 home runs, 208 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and 186 runs scored across 403 games played.

Brandon Crawford game-tying home run! pic.twitter.com/jndJpXvytG

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 8, 2023

In comparison, over the past four seasons, the 33-year-old Ahmed holds a .230/.285/.351 triple-slash line, with 15 home runs, 91 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and 96 runs scored across 275 games played.

Ahmed had spent all 10 years of his MLB career with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

As they prepare for the upcoming season, the Cardinals are banking on Crawford's experience and track record, aiming to leverage his defensive acumen and potentially reignite his offensive production to propel them toward reclaiming the top spot in the National League Central standings. Photo Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports