His time with the Red Sox has come to an end at last.
To no one’s surprise, and maybe even more of a “finally” or “he is still with the Boston Red Sox?” type reaction, the Red Sox released first baseman/OF Allen Craig. Being that the veteran Craig has not seen the Major Leagues since 2015, this news was long overdue it seems.
Allen Craig seems to be one of those “fall from grace” type of players. Making his Major League debut in 2010, Craig slowly began to rise as a solid first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, hitting over .300 from 2011-2013. In 2013, Craig made his one and only All-Star appearance, and in 2012 and 2013, he was at least mentioned in the MVP race, finishing 18th and 19th in the rankings.
A little over half way through the 2014 season, after playing in the 2013 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, Allen Craig was traded to the very team that had just beaten him and the St. Louis Cardinals in October. Joining Craig was flame-throwing righty Joe Kelly, which in turn sent John Lackey back to the St. Louis Cardinals.
In two seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Allen Craig never cracked a batting average over .160 and played just 29 games in 2015. The problem the Red Sox quickly had with Allen Craig was an overpaid, struggling Major League first baseman/OF. With a 5 year contract worth $31 million through 2017 looming in the background, the Red Sox were forced to try anything and everything possible to return Craig to 2013 form.
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Now gone from the Red Sox, it will be interesting to see if Allen Craig tries to join another organization, even though he is only hitting sub .260 in Triple-A this season. Or maybe as some may suggest Allen Craig will see the writing on the wall, and try to sign a one-day contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he saw essentially all his success for his 8-year career.