Cardinals release former Giants SS Brandon Crawford

Aug 21, 2024, 10:29 AM

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 28: Brandon Crawford #35 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the batter's box i...

(Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Following a rough–and brief–tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals, former San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford has reached another crossroads in his Major League Baseball career.

The 37-year-old was released by the Cardinals on Tuesday to make room for fellow longtime veteran Matt Carpenter, who took Crawford’s spot on St. Louis’ 26-man roster.

In just 28 appearances with the Cardinals in 2024, Crawford hit .169 with one home run, four RBI, and five runs scored over 80 plate appearances–all career-lows.

The Cardinals have released Brandon Crawford pic.twitter.com/sXEPFLHDl1

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 20, 2024

More on former Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford

Following 13 memorable seasons with his childhood team, the San Francisco Giants, Brandon Crawford entered uncharted waters this past offseason.

A forgettable 2023 season that saw the then-36-year-old shortstop hit .194 over 93 games would act as the end of the road for Crawford’s time in orange and black, as Giants president Farhan Zaidi made it clear the franchise was looking at alternative in-house solutions like prospect Marco Luciano.

Instead, San Francisco shifted gears and brought in veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed on a one-year deal. Ahmed struggled for the Giants, hitting .232 over 52 games before being released in July.

The emergence of rookie infielder Tyler Fitzgerald has stopped the bleeding at shortstop, as the 26-year-old’s knack for the long ball (14 home runs over 199 at-bats) has given San Francisco a player to feel confident in building around at the position.

If this is the end for Crawford, it’s been a successful career, to say the least: