Carl Crawford, Red Sox to Discuss Shutting Down Outfielder During Monday’s Off Day

Carl Crawford's season could be coming to an end.

Before Sunday's game against the Yankees, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine told reporters in New York that the team would use Monday's off day to determine a course of action for Crawford.

"Ben [Cherington] and I just talked about it," Valentine said. "When he can't play, he tells me he can't play. I haven't heard that today. Tomorrow is an off day, and we'll take that time to talk to Carl and the doctors to get to the bottom of the entire situation."

Since returning from the disabled list, Crawford has reiterated the need for Tommy John surgery on his balky elbow. By playing, the left fielder risks further injury, but he did so with the hopes of lifting the Red Sox to the playoffs.

While he's performed well in 29 games, the Red Sox have tumbled further out of the postseason hunt. For position players, the timeline for return from the procedure is roughly seven to nine months.

But Crawford's agent, Brian Peters, told the Boston Herald in an email that they would follow the team's protocol.

"Carl intends to follow the course recommended by the medical professionals who have been treating him, in whom he has full confidence," Peters said. "Whether and when he has surgery will be determined by them. The Red Sox have been and remain 100 percent supportive of Carl throughout the process."

If Crawford were to undergo surgery next week, he'd likely miss a stretch of games next April. That's why Cherington understands the importance of getting the surgery over with for Crawford.

"This is a long-term contract," Cherington told reporters in New York. "We have to make sure we're doing what's best for him and the team. It's not a short-term investment."

Crawford was batting second in Sunday's lineup.

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