Craig retired from baseball to take a role in the Padres' front office as a baseball operations advisor, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
For a player who hit a respectable but unremarkable .276/.333/.435 over parts of six big-league seasons, Craig had quite a significant career. He appeared in two World Series, winning one in 2011 with the Cardinals, and was an All-Star in 2013. He was credited with the game-winning RBI in three of the Cardinals' wins in the 2011 series.
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Padres' Allen Craig: Heads to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Padres reassigned Craig to their minor-league camp Sunday.
Craig hasn't surfaced in the big leagues since 2015 and doesn't appear likely to return anytime soon following back-to-back underwhelming campaigns in the International League as a member of the Red Sox organization. The 33-year-old will serve as outfield depth for the Padres at Triple-A El Paso this season after inking a minor-league deal with San Diego in January.
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Padres' Allen Craig: Agrees to minor-league deal with Padres
Rotowire
Craig signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Monday, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.
Craig spent part of the 2017 season at Triple-A Pawtucket as a member of the Red Sox and hit .253/.352/.316 over 27 games. His lackluster performance ultimately resulted in him being released by the club during the season. He'll figure to provide organizational depth with San Diego.
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Allen Craig: Released Friday
Rotowire
Craig was released by the Red Sox on Friday, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reports.
Craig, who hasn't seen major-league action since 2015, was slashing .253/.352/.316 in 27 games for Triple-A Pawtucket before being cut loose. The 32-year-old could catch on elsewhere given his previous success in the majors, but it seems unlikely he'll make it back to the big leagues.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig: Reassigned to minors
Rotowire
Craig was reassigned to the Red Sox's minor-league camp Sunday, freelance Red Sox writer Maureen Mullen reports.
The former All-Star remains in the Red Sox organization, but his career has been on the downswing since he was traded to Boston in 2014. He's spent much of the past two seasons in the minors and looks bound to do the same again in 2017 after hitting just .173 at Pawtucket a year ago.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig: Expected to start in minors
Rotowire
Craig is likely to begin the 2017 season at Triple-A Pawtucket, regardless of how well he hits during spring training, Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Craig, who had a double and a home run Wednesday against the Mets, is no longer on Boston's 40-man roster and carries a huge salary ($11 million) that would leave the Red Sox susceptible to the luxury tax. So, while his 1.043 spring OPS looks like he's making a case for sticking on the roster, it's not going to happen.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig: Set to begin rehab assignment
Rotowire
Craig, who hasn't played since May 19 due to right-knee inflammation, will begin a rehabilitation assignment with short-season Lowell on Friday, Logan Mullen of WEEI.com reports.
Craig returned from an oblique injury earlier this season, then ended up back on the disabled list after two games with a knee injury. The former major league All-Star and MVP vote-getter is way off the radar these days. So far off that he's not on Boston's 40-man roster.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig: Reinstated from disabled list Monday
Rotowire
Craig (oblique) was reinstated from the disabled list Monday.
Craig had missed 30 games due to his ailing oblique, but he seems to be back to full health and ready to contribute for the PawSox again. Despite the health concern being behind him, it's unlikely that he'll get anywhere near the majors unless he really picks things up at the plate in the minors.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig: Begins light baseball activities
Rotowire
Craig (oblique) has begun light baseball activities, WEEI.com reports.
Craig has been sidelined by an oblique strain since early in the season after playing just four games for Triple-A Pawtucket. At this point, there's no clear path back to the majors for Craig, unless another organization is willing to take on his hefty contract.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig: Placed on disabled list
Rotowire
Craig was placed on the disabled list Thursday with an undisclosed injury.
The former All Star from 2013 has had a precipitous decline in recent years, culminating in him being reassigned to minor league camp this spring. Before being placed on the disabled list Thursday, Craig had gone 2-for-10 with a pair of doubles and three strikeouts at Triple-A Pawtucket. The nature of Craig's injury has yet to be disclosed, but he'll be on the shelf for at least a week.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig: Serves as DH Monday
Rotowire
Craig was Boston's designated hitter Monday and went 0-for-1 with two walks in an exhibition game against Boston College.
Craig's descent from grace continues as he enters spring training a non-roster invitee, having been outrighted off the 40-man roster in the offseason. If he can ever reclaim the luster he had in 2012 and 2013 when he hit .311/.364/.488/.852 for the Cardinals, Craig could be insurance at first base should the Hanley Ramirez experiment not work out, and back up in the outfield. In all likelihood, the Red Sox would take advantage even a partial return to his halcyon days by trading Craig, who will make $9 million this season and $11 million in 2017.
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Allen Craig makes rare appearance for Red Sox in loss to Yankees
Rotowire
Allen Craig filled in as the designated hitter for the Red Sox on Thursday night as David Ortiz (general soreness) was held out of the lineup. He went 1 for 4 in a loss to the Yankees.
Craig has been a forgotten man on Boston's roster, getting just 22 at-bats in September, but figures to get playing time in the final three games, as the Red Sox are unlikely to have Ortiz play again this season.
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Allen Craig among September call-ups for Red Sox
Rotowire
The Red Sox will bring up outfielder Allen Craig on Tuesday when their roster expands, reports The Boston Globe.
Craig was demoted earlier this season after hitting .135 with one home run and two RBI in 24 games. Along with Craig, the team also called up Ryan Cook, Noe Ramirez and Sandy Leon.
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Red Sox OF Allen Craig trying to work his way back into majors
Rotowire
Evidence is small, but just maybe Red Sox farmhand Allen Craig is beginning to rediscover the stroke and approach at the plate that made him one of the steadiest and most productive hitters in the National League just two years ago.
Craig owns a .448 slugging percentage with five doubles and a home run since Aug. 12 for Triple-A Pawtucket. The Red Sox might not promote him when the rosters expand in September, but they know he's making progress.
"It's the process with him," PawSox manager Kevin Boles told MLB.com. "Everybody wanted immediate results right away. What we're looking at is the quality of the at-bats and working a count."
Craig batted over .300 for three straight seasons in St. Louis, but struggled in 2014 and was traded to Boston, where he bottomed out to start this year. His current slash line of .275/.370/.353 indicates that he is at least getting on base. Beyond that, he's just seeking baby steps.
"The goal is to get back to the big leagues," he said. "I try not to look too far in the future. Just try to focus on today, take care of what I need to take care of. I don't make those decisions. I just need to focus on playing."
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Red Sox's Allen Craig clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Red Sox outfielder Allen Craig was sent outright to Triple-A Pawtucket after clearing waivers Monday, the Boston Globe reports.
Craig hit .135/.237/.192 with one home run and two RBI in 52 at-bats with the Red Sox before being taken off the active roster.
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Red Sox make Jackie Bradley, Allen Craig moves official
Rotowire
The Red Sox officially announced the promotion of outfielder Jackie Bradley from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Bradley is in the Red Sox's starting lineup on Sunday. He was hitting .343 in Pawtucket. He spent most of last season on Boston, playing in 127 games.
The team also announced that it was optioning slumping outfielder Allen Craig to Pawtucket. Craig was hitting .135 with two RBI this season.
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Report: Red Sox to option OF Allen Craig
Rotowire
One could never have imagined just two years ago Allen Craig being sent to the minors. But the Red Sox are on the verge of optioning him, a source has told the Boston Herald. As a player with four years service time, he cannot refuse the assignment.
Craig declined to comment when asked about a possible move, but Jackie Bradley was scratched from his Saturday game for Triple-A Pawtucket and would be the logical candidate to take his place. ESPN has claimed that Bradley is on his way to Toronto to join the team.
The move would be made to get Craig regular at-bats and back in the groove. He was among the steadiest and most productive hitters in the National League for St. Louis in 2012 and 2013, but has been a mess since.
Craig has just seven hits in 48 at-bats this season and has received only sporadic playing time.
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Red Sox manager John Farrell showing faith in Allen Craig
Rotowire
Red Sox outfielder Allen Craig is proving in a short time he can be a quality reserve player for Boston, according to the Providence Journal.
Manager John Farrell likes what he's seen from Craig so far that he wants to continue to insert him in the lineup.
"He's taking quality at-bats," Farrell said. "I'm giving him a chance to run with it."
Craig is 3 for 9 at the plate this month with a home run and two RBI.
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Red Sox OF Hanley Ramirez hopes to be ready in a couple days
Rotowire
Red Sox outfielder Hanley Ramirez is still feeling the effects of running into the right field wall Monday, but is feeling better, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.
Ramirez, who has been out of the lineup since crashing into the wall, hopes to be ready in a couple of days. As expected, Ramirez is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game, with Allen Craig drawing another start in left.
Ramirez is hitting .283 with 10 home runs and 22 RBI in 92 at-bats this season.
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Red Sox's Allen Craig 'ready' in case Hanley Ramirez misses time
Rotowire
Red Sox outfielder Allen Craig could be facing an increase in playing time after Hanley Ramirez suffered a shoulder injury while crashing into an outfield wall Monday. Craig said he'll "be ready" for the challenge if needed, the Boston Herald reports.
"I enjoy playing the game as much as possible," Craig said Monday night. "Like I said before, you never want to get an opportunity because of someone's injury, but I don't want to jump the gun on anything. I hope Hanley's OK. If my name's called, I'll be ready."
Craig replaced Ramirez in Monday's game and went 1 for 4 in his team's 5-1 loss to the Rays. He has hit .146/.222/.220 with one home run and two RBI in 41 at-bats.
