Brandon Crawford finds a new home for first time in MLB career

Feb 26, 2024, 12:48 PM

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 17: Brandon Crawford #35 of the San Francisco Giants follows the flight of the ball after hitting a sixth inning three-run home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 17, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

BY JOSEPH JAROSZ

Former Editor

The writing was on the wall that Brandon Crawford was not going to return to San Francisco, the place he called home for his 13-year major league career.

On Monday, the doors were officially slammed shut on his return to the Bay.

Katie Woo of The Athletic was the first to report that the 37-year-old Crawford has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Woo added that the deal is contingent on Crawford passing a physical for St. Louis.

READ MORE FROM SACTOWN SPORTS: San Francisco Giants sign former two-time Gold Glove winner

The St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly signed 3x All-Star Brandon Crawford. pic.twitter.com/AgCP8O2EOK

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 26, 2024

A Bay Area native, Brandon Crawford played 1,617 games with the Giants. And while he ended this past season with a career-low .194 batting average, he’ll go down as one of the best in Giants’ history. A career .250 hitter, Crawford has done a lot for San Francisco. He’s helped the team win two World Series, represented the Giants in the All-Star Game three times, has four Gold Gloves, and is a two-time Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award winner.

The first opportunity Crawford will have against his former team is when the Giants and Cardinals face off at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, June 20. The Giants will also close out the 2024 season with a three-game homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals.