Dodgers designate Carl Crawford for assignment with $35 million left on contract

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday designated outfielder Carl Crawford for assignment, showcasing their financial might in paying a player who still has $35 million left on his contract over the next two seasons to not play for them.

Crawford, batting .185 with a .230 on-base percentage and .235 slugging, played in 30 games this season before the Dodgers cut bait, enabling them to free up a 40-man roster spot and recall Austin Barnes from Class AAA Oklahoma City.

The Dodgers have 10 days to trade, release, demote (with his approval) or put Crawford on waivers with the hope that another team will pick him up. Once Crawford clears waivers, any team signing him will be responsible for just a pro-rated portion of the major league minimum salary.

Crawford was shipped from the Boston Red Sox to the Dodgers in 2012 in the second year of a seven-year, $142 million contract. The nine-player trade also netted them first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and starting pitcher Josh Beckett, who has since retired. The trade added more than $250 million in salary, and a year later the Red Sox won the 2013 World Series without that trio.

This season, the Dodgers opened with a $221 million payroll, which was more like $245 million based on payments to players no longer with the club.

Crawford's release ensures that their 2017 financials will have a similar look.

Crawford, 34, was a four-time All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays before signing the extension with the Red Sox. He was one of the most dynamic top-of-the-order players in the game, blessed with speed, moderate power and steady defense.

But he has been a shadow of his former self since, playing 130 games once since 2011. With the Dodgers, Crawford batted .278/.320/.400 with 18 home runs, 99 RBI and 48 steals in 320 games.

According to Fangraphs’ version of WAR, Crawford was worth -0.8 wins above replacement this season. He eclipsed 4 WAR five times in eight full seasons in Tampa.