The Mariners have officially announced a contract extension with shortstop JP Crawford, which reportedly adds four more years and $46.15 million in new money. Crawford, who is now under contract until 2026, will be represented by Wasserman.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the $51 million deal starts this year and is buying up two free-agent seasons. Crawford had already agreed to a $4.85 million contract for 2022. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has the financial breakdown of the new contract. Jon Heyman of the New York Post notes that the agreement does not include option years and provides details on trade ban provisions.
Crawford, 27, was drafted 16th overall from high school by the Phillies in 2013. He was traded with to the Mariners Carlo Santana in December 2018 in a deal that was aired Jean Segura to Philly.
Crawford is the Mariners’ first shortstop since the trade. Defense is Crawford’s calling card as he was awarded a gold glove for his work in the abridged 2020 season. In the 2021 Fielding Bible Awards vote, Crawford placed sixth. He didn’t shine particularly well on Statcast’s “Outs Above Average” metric at 21, but did well at 20. Crawford ranked seventh among shortstops in saved defensive runs last year.
At-bat, Crawford has steadily risen to become above-average, with 103 wRC+ in 687 plate appearances over the last year. That resulted in a career-best 3.1 FanGraphs WAR, although Crawford was also close to that mark proportionately in 2020. Back in November, Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners’ president of baseball operations, made it clear that Crawford would be the team’s first shortstop for 2022, regardless of who the team ended up chasing in free agency.
Now Dipoto has Crawford jailed for the 2026 season. Dipoto said in a statement on Friday: “JP brings excellent defense in a critical position, in addition to solid ability on grassroots and a penchant for delivering in the big moment. He is an incredibly competitive player who has become an integral part of our team, both on the pitch and in the clubhouse.”
Crawford is the sixth Mariners player to sign and join beyond 2022 Robbie Ray, Eugenio Suarez, Marco Gonzales, EvanWhiteand Andres Munoz. The club has approximately $80 million in commitments for 2023.
It’s been a while since a player with a slightly less strong position in the three-year ranks signed for a contract extension. Already in January 2016, Dee Strange Gordon signed a five-year, $50 million contract with the Marlins.