The Tampa Bay Rays exercised their $10 million option on left fielder Carl Crawford Monday, as well as releasing former Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun and lefthanded relief pitcher Brian Shouse.
Crawford, 28, is the longest-tenured Ray in history and the club’s all-time leader in hits, at-bats, runs, stolen bases, triples, games played and RBI. Last season he hit .305 (185-for-606) – his fourth season batting .300 or better – with 15 home runs, 68 RBI, 96 runs scored and a career-high and club-record 60 stolen bases. The three-time All-Star was named MVP of the 2009 All-Star Game after robbing Colorado’s Brad Hawpe of a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning.
An eight-year veteran, Crawford ranks fourth among active players with 362 career stolen bases and ranks third with 92 triples. Through his first 1,000 games he totaled 341 stolen bases and 87 triples – numbers matched only by Hall of Famer Ty Cobb through 1,000 games.
Shouse, 41, appeared in 45 games for the Rays in 2009, going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA (28.0-IP, 14-ER). He held left-handed hitters to a .224 batting average. The lefty specialist has been pitching professionally for 20 seasons, including parts of 10 seasons in the major leagues. He owns a career record of 13-10 with a 3.72 ERA.
Zaun, 38, was acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on August 7. Overall, he hit .260 (68-for-262) in 90 games with eight home runs, 27 RBI and a .345 on-base percentage. In 30 games with the Rays he batted .287 (27-for-94) with four home runs and 14 RBI, and hit .302 (26-for-86) against right-handed pitching. He is a 15-year-veteran.
