Rays fans prepared for Crawford to bid farewell

It was late September. Bill Simmons, an auto-parts salesman from Clearwater, drove to Tropicana Field with his 8-year-old son, Billy, whose room is a virtual shrine to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The father took a deep breath.

"Billy, did you know Carl Crawford probably won't be playing for the Rays next season?"

Silence.

"Why not?"

"Well, the Rays won't have enough money to pay him."

"Why not? Isn't he their best player?"

The conversation was difficult, almost painful.

"After that, whenever Carl made a play, instead of cheering, we just kind of looked at each other and said, 'Man, we're sure going to miss him,' " Simmons said.

Many Rays fans are Crawford fans. You see them everywhere - men, women, children, seniors - wearing the replica No. 13 jerseys. Recently, they have experienced denial, depression and anger.

Now it's the acceptance stage - the World Series has ended, the free-agency filing period is beginning, and the reality of Crawford, the four-time All-Star left fielder reaching his prime at age 29, is welcoming suitors who likely will offer multiyear contracts in excess of $100 million.

Will it be the Los Angeles Angels? The Detroit Tigers? Someone in the National League, such as the Chicago Cubs? Or - gasp - the big-bucks rivals in the American League East: the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?

For Rays fans, it's an emotional issue.

"I'll boo-hoo a little bit," said Pat Skalski of Clearwater. "I don't want to think about Carl in another uniform."

But with the Rays reducing payroll to about $50 million, down from last season's $73 million, and the unlikely prospect of devoting about 30 percent of that to one player, other fans have taken a business-is-business attitude.

"I don't blame the guy," said Tampa's Jon Pessano. "I'm sad about it, but I'd do the same thing. If somebody offers me an extra 50 percent of income, I'm gone. There's no loyalty in sports anymore."

Inside the Rays' clubhouse, of course, the players understand business.

"Coming into this organization, I kind of knew what the deal was, the payroll, the way things have to be done," said Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, who signed a six-year, $17.5 million contract as a rookie, with three option years that could enhance the value to $44 million.

It's regarded as a shrewd deal for the club, considering how Longoria has grown into a three-time All-Star and one of the game's brightest young talents.

Crawford's last deal with the Rays was considered a good deal for the franchise, too. In April 2005, he signed a four-year extension for a guaranteed $15.25 million and two option years, both of which were picked up by the club for a combined $18.25 million. Still, in the parlance of modern baseball finance, Crawford consistently outperformed his contract.

Now it's time for a larger payday.

"When you think about the possibilities (of Crawford leaving the Rays), it could be kind of demoralizing," Longoria said. "The guy has been here for nine years, done everything, set every record. He's very comfortable here. People might think, 'Why would he leave?' It's just the way the business side of the game works sometimes."

Stuart Sternberg, the Rays' principal owner, said he quickly developed an affinity for Crawford when he bought the team. With sagging attendance - 22nd in major league baseball - and a new stadium nowhere close to being resolved, though, Sternberg said fans shouldn't be shocked at fiscal reality.

Practicality has also clouded the rose-colored lenses of Manager Joe Maddon.

"My hope all along has been us finding a way to make this thing work" and keep Crawford, Maddon said. "Now, that might be purely fiction and impossible. It could be that Carl wants to stay here but he can't because this is his moment and he must take advantage of it for his future.

"We know who we are and how we have to operate. I can't reflect on that too much, and I don't. If Carl were to leave, of course we would miss him, especially with the way he covers ground on defense, which is so underappreciated. It's our job to come up with the next Carl Crawford."

The next Carl Crawford?

In theory, that's how the Rays remain competitive. When high-price veterans depart, the Rays must tap into their farm system. Next in line: outfielder Desmond Jennings, 24, who was ranked Baseball America's No. 6 overall MLB prospect before 2010. Jennings is touted as an outstanding base runner, defensive player and disciplined hitter.

"If somebody wants to mention my name with his name, I'll take that as an honor," Jennings said.

Then he paused and uttered his own version of reality: "There won't be a next Carl Crawford. There's only one."

For nine seasons - and seven Gold Glove awards - Torii Hunter was an excellent center fielder for the Minnesota Twins, a small-market team that played in the Metrodome. Hunter, an outgoing fan favorite, felt at home. He loved the Twins.

But after the 2007 season, Hunter knew he had to leave.

When free agency began, the Twins offered a three-year, $45 million contract.

Hunter signed with the Los Angeles Angels for five years and $90 million - nearly double the Twins' offer.

"It was before the Twins got the new stadium," Hunter said. "The mindset of the front office was cheaper. They wanted you to take a super discount. But I never gave a discount on the field.

"Hey, I would've taken a discount to stay. But they wanted me to take lower than a discount. It was emotional to leave. Sometimes, you've got to go. Sometimes, it's just your time to do that."

Hunter is one of Crawford's best friends.

He has subtly recruited Crawford for the Angels - coincidentally, their lockers at the All-Star Game were side by side - but he downplays that role.

"People don't want to hear it, but you've got to look out for your best interests," Hunter said. "If you don't, who will? I played on that old turf in Minnesota, and you've got ask yourself, 'Am I going to be able to walk when I'm done? Is this shortening my career?'

"That's one thing Carl might be thinking about. Has he ever asked me that question? I don't know, but it's a natural question. All I know is I'm playing on grass now and I feel great. No problems at all. The only problem I get is when I run into the wall."

There was an adjustment to Los Angeles, though.

"You start with one team and you know everybody, you know where to live, you have your life," Hunter said. "Then it all changes. When I got with the Angels, I was real quiet. I didn't want to step on anybody's toes. But right after spring training, I felt at home.

"Yeah, the money's great. But it's not all about the money. Change can be hard. It would be great to stay someplace forever. But the way things happen, sometimes you can't. And it's nothing against the fans. It's just the business."

Crawford has been careful not to alienate anyone.

"I never said I want to leave the Rays," Crawford said before the American League playoffs began. "Whatever happens, happens. I love the people here."

As the Rays faced elimination against the Texas Rangers, those people loved him back.

They chanted his name in the final innings - Car-uhl Craw-ford! Car-uhl Craw-ford! Car-uhl Craw-ford ! They gave him a standing ovation.

Tampa Bay-area sports fans have experienced the relocation of their primetime players. Three former Bucs quarterbacks won Super Bowl games after leaving Tampa Bay - Doug Williams for the Washington Redskins, Steve Young for the San Francisco 49ers and Trent Dilfer for the Baltimore Ravens - and the first two captured Most Valuable Player honors.

There was a bitter split with safety John Lynch, who signed with the Denver Broncos. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp fled to the Oakland Raiders. After winning the 2004 Stanley Cup, the Lightning were methodically broken up. Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Brad Richards and Dan Boyle were traded - Richards to the Dallas Stars and Boyle to the San Jose Sharks.

But this is different.

This is Carl Crawford - a homegrown talent, the best performer in franchise history, a player who could be on track for the Hall of Fame.

"He came in here almost as a teenager, and he leaves as a man," said Michael Naise of Clearwater.

"I like how he stands up there at the plate and how he always tries hard," said Aidan McDonald, 8, who plays for Dunedin Little League. "He's always been my favorite. I'm not sure why he has to switch" teams.

"I feel like I know him," said Brooksville's Betty Evans. "Almost like part of the family. If I can't see him anymore, I don't know what I'll do."

There's nothing left to do now except wait for the inevitable.

"The tragedy is he played all those years for losing teams. Now the Rays finally get good, and he's going to leave," former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer said. "When you're a fan, I'm sure it makes you lose a little heart - particularly if he shows back up wearing a Yankees or Red Sox uniform. It makes you want to scream."