Dodgers News: Carl Crawford Pleased To Avoid Boston Trip In 2016

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2016 preliminary schedule was released Tuesday afternoon which gave fans a first look at what’s to come next season. After facing American League West opponents as part of Interleague play this season, the Dodgers are slated to take on multiple AL East opponents in 2016.

Matchups include series against historic franchises, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, though a visit won’t be made to Boston. With the Red Sox instead scheduled to travel to Dodger Stadium, Carl Crawford expressed a sense of relief in not having to play at Fenway Park, according to Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

Angels must have been with me and [Adrian Gonzalez] on that one,” Crawford said with a laugh. “The heavens were with us because Lord knows, that would have been terrible for us. Good thing we get to avoid that.”

The 13-year veteran spent two seasons in Boston after signing a seven-year, $142 million deal with the Red Sox. He spent nine years with the Tampa Bay Rays. In his final year with Tampa Bay, Crawford played in 154 games hitting .307/.356/.495 while stealing 47 bases.

The following year in Boston, Crawford battled a wrist injury and played 130 games in which he batted .255/.289/.405 while stealing only 18 bases. During his last year playing in the East Coast, Crawford struggled to stay on the field as he appeared in only 31 games.

Crawford was eventually shut down for the year with a torn ligament in his throwing elbow and later sent to the Dodgers as part of a historic trade. Crawford touched on some of the pressure that came with playing in Boston and the adverse affect it had on him in Molly Knight’s The Best Team Money Can Buy.

Luckily the Dodgers front office gave Crawford a new home and the trade has worked out for both clubs. Although Crawford has at times struggled to remain healthy, he’s did well down the stretch last season and has been strong since being reinstated from the disabled list this year. In the month of August he hit .302/.362/.396 while stealing six bases.