SI

Cardinals Release Brandon Crawford After Unfruitful 28-Game Stint

Patrick Andres

Jul 2, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brandon Crawford (35) warms up before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Jul 2, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brandon Crawford (35) warms up before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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After a brief, largely unproductive 28-game stint, the St. Louis Cardinals are cutting ties with a three-time All-Star.

The Cardinals are releasing shortstop Brandon Crawford, the team announced Tuesday afternoon. Crawford, 37, slashed .169/.263/.282 with one home run and four RBIs this season.

St. Louis originally signed Crawford to a one-year deal worth $2 million on Feb. 27.

Crawford has made three All-Star teams across a 14-year career—in 2015, 2018 and 2021. He won the 2012 and 2014 World Series with the San Francisco Giants and finished fourth in the National League MVP voting in '21 with a career year at age 34.

The shortstop's exit came amid a flurry of roster moves for the Cardinals. St. Louis optioned outfielder Jordan Walker to Triple-A Memphis, activated infielder Matt Carpenter from the injured list, and called up infielder Luken Baker from Memphis.

The Cardinals are 61–63 this season, second in the NL Central and 11 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.

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Patrick Andres

PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

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