Crawford is locked up, avoids mass arbitration raises.

[Fishercat]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford agreed Friday to a $15.25 million, four-year contract that could be worth up to $32.5 million over six seasons.

The two-rime AL stolen base champion, who is 23, gets a $500,000 signing bonus, $500,000 this year in 2005, $2.5 million in 2006, $4 million in 2007 and $5.25 million in 2008.

Tampa Bay has an $8.25 million option for 2009 with a $2.5 million buyout. If the Devil Rays exercise that option, the team gets a $10 million option for 2010 with a $1.25 million buyout.

In addition, the contract includes escalators that could boost Crawford's salary to $11.5 million in the final year.

Good job, it's a respectably sized deal, that if Crawford explodes, they can lock him up on options, and if he's mediocre, it doesn't cost them that much. Keep the young guys.

http://tinyurl.com/3nwd8

[BuckFoston]

Good move by the Devil Rays. They need Crawford, he is amazing. Very fast, he can hit the ball also and isn't bad in the field either.

[browntown653]

Crawford could really develop into a Bobby Abreu type guy. I think he is really going to have a big increase in the number of home runs he hits this year and should continue to scare pitchers on the basepaths. He's also a good contact hitter and will probably be an All-Star several times in his career.

[Impossibles]

Good signing buy the Rays. Crawford is on the verge of becoming a star player. I heard Lou Pinella say that he thinks he will be a #3 hitter with power.

[Steak]

It's good to see the Rays keeping their young players long-term.

I think that team finally has something going with the young talent they got in Kazmir, Neimman, Crawford, Rocco, Michael Restrovich, and etc. I just hope Lous is around when the team is competing.

[RockSports17]

Crawford is going to be a top OF in a couple of years.

As of right now he reminds me more of a Rickey Henderson than an Abreu.

Glad to see Devil Rays lock him up.

[Street]

Crawford is not an amazing hitter guys. You are definetly over-exaggerating over him. Yes, he is very fasta nd if he gets on he can probably steal 2nd without a problem. But, he is far from a Bobby Abreu at this time.

[RockSports17]

I think he'll improve this year hitting wise, he'll probably get some more powers, rbis, etc. He's not this great hitter like ARod or Vlad. He's a decent hitter.