Free Agent Profile: J.P. Crawford
2027 Age: 32
2026 Stats: 116 G, 489 PA, .221/.335/.352, 14 HR, 105 wRC+, .312 wOBA, 1.2 fWAR
2026 Salary: $11 million
Qualifying Offer: No
Contract Projection
Length: 1-3 years
Projected AAV: $9-14 million
Despite a down season, Crawford’s 1.2 fWAR in 2026 will be the second-highest total among free agent shortstops this offseason. The question that remains is whether teams will view Crawford as a solution to their needs at shortstop. Seattle moved him to third base in June after needing to shuffle the deck due to a slew of injuries, and he didn’t move back to shortstop until August, following Emerson’s season-ending wrist surgery.
The move to third base also coincided with a noticeable downturn in Crawford’s defense at shortstop, while he was much closer to average at third base.
J.P. Crawford Shortstop Defense
SeasonInningsDRSFRVDRPArm Strength20211412.1632.082.520221254.0-4-5-4.083.220231260.0-4-8-1.082.32024894.2914.683.220251384.2-3-9-1.479.62026720.0-12-10-2.780.4Via FanGraphsVia FanGraphsVia StatcastVia Baseball ProspectusVia Statcast
On a rate basis, Crawford’s 2026 was not just the worst of his career, but nearly the worst in baseball. He ranked in the bottom three in Defensive Runs Saved, Fielding Run Value, and Baseball Prospectus’s Defensive Runs Prevented. His arm strength took a steep dive last season, and that decline has only continued.
The upside for Crawford was a strong September. After a rough June and July, during which he slashed .200/.308/.280 and posted a 79 wRC+, Crawford returned from injury in strong fashion, posting a 127 wRC+ over his final 104 plate appearances.
Crawford also has historically strong platoon splits against right-handed pitching, a precocious eye at the plate, and the ability to avoid chasing pitches and swinging and missing. Thus, despite a weaker season and some scary signs of aging, these four teams could be on the hunt for exactly what Crawford can provide this offseason.
Free Agent Landing Spots for J.P. Crawford
SEATTLE, WA -MARCH 27: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the seventh inning of a game against the Athletics on Opening Day at T-Mobile Park on March 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies
Projected Payroll: $267 million
With Alec Bohm likely gone, the Phillies will be searching for answers at third base. Should Crawford be open to signing with the intention of playing primarily at third, this fit makes a lot of sense. While the Phillies will likely give prospects like Aidan Miller a shot to crack the Opening Day roster this spring, Crawford, a former Phillies top prospect himself, provides poise at the plate and on-base ability that meshes perfectly with the top dogs in the Phillies lineup.
Philadelphia has been burned by aging free-agent signings recently, as Adolis García and Max Kepler were total duds. But unless Miller completely takes Spring Training by storm, there aren’t many answers at present for an already antsy and desperate roster and front office.