May 5, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Allen Craig (5) at bat during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
If this was the Allen Craig of a few years back the John Lackey trade would look great despite the failure of Kelly to grab a CY Award, but it isn’t. Craig’s bat appears to be for decorative purposes only – like a planter in a lawyer’s office. Just doing nothing.
Craig has wandered the outfield for the PawSox while cashing that bi-weekly check with all those zeros. Craig has some hope and that is the fact the Red Sox are on the fiscal hook for 20M over the next two seasons with no intoxicated GM willing to take on that contract without the Sox chipping in 90%+. Craig is now dead money personified.
Craig will get a shot. Stranger things have happened in baseball since occasionally a faded star gets out of a three-year funk and is no longer flat line. Craig will be in spring training with his first baseman’s mitt, outfielder’s mitt and whatever he uses to swat down balls at third.