Crawford (hand) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth for the Cardinals in Tuesday's exhibition game versus the Cubs, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Crawford missed a little time with some soreness in his hand after being hit by a pitch, but he's on track for Opening Day now after getting one final tune-up Tuesday. The veteran infielder is poised to serve as Masyn Winn's backup at shortstop in 2024.

Crawford (hand) took batting practice Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

As long as he doesn't experience any lingering effects with the hand injury he suffered just over a week ago, Crawford will return to play in the Cardinals' exhibition finale Tuesday against the Cubs. Assuming health, he's slated to serve as a backup shortstop for the Cards this season.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Crawford (hand) is aiming to return to game action this weekend, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Crawford hasn't played since being hit on the hand/wrist area by a pitch Sunday, but his return to the Grapefruit League lineup looks to be imminent. The 37-year-old is slated to back up Masyn Winn at shortstop for the Cardinals this season.

Crawford is hoping to be ready to play in Grapefruit League games by mid-to-late March, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Crawford officially inked his one-year, $2 million contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday and will ramp up on the back fields for a bit before being thrown into game action. He shouldn't need too many spring at-bats in order to get ready for Opening Day. Crawford has indicated a willingness to play some second and/or third base for St. Louis, if needed, although president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has indicated the plan is to use Crawford only as a backup at shortstop, Brenden Schaeffer of KMOV reports.

Crawford signed a contract with the Cardinals on Monday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The longtime San Francisco Giant will head to St. Louis where he will back up youngster Masyn Winn at shortstop. Crawford -- who turned 37 last month -- remains a good defender but has managed a lowly .216/.293/.332 over the last two seasons. The addition of Crawford could indicate some skepticism of Tommy Edman's (wrist) readiness for Opening Day, as he had been projected to be Winn's backup.

Crawford's agent, Joel Wolfe, said Tuesday that his client intends to continue his playing career in 2024, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Crawford batted just .194/.273/.314 over 320 plate appearances with the Giants in 2023 and will turn 37 years old in January, but Wolfe told reporters at the GM Meetings in Arizona that "several teams have called" him about the veteran shortstop since he officially became a free agent earlier this week. Wolfe went on to note that Crawford "would consider" playing second or third base, so perhaps he'd be open to operating in a utility role in 2024 if such an opportunity were to present itself.

Crawford (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff Sunday against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old landed on the shelf with a hamstring strain Sept. 21 but will rejoin the lineup for the final game of the regular season, and potentially his 13-year career with the Giants. Crawford has a .197/.276/.319 slash line in 93 games this season and is scheduled to become a free agent this winter.

Crawford (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Crawford was placed on the IL on Sept. 21 with a right hamstring strain, but he's pushing for reinstatement to the roster when first eligible, with his return coinciding with the season finale. Assuming Crawford endures no setbacks with his hamstring and is activated Sunday, he could be making the final start of his 13-year tenure with the Giants. The 36-year-old is set to become a free agent this winter, and while he has yet to decide whether he wants to continue playing in 2024, he likely won't have much of a market if he chooses to forgo retirement after producing a lowly .595 OPS over 316 plate appearances thus far in 2023.

Crawford was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right hamstring strain, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Crawford suffered the injury Wednesday in what could wind up being his final game in a Giants uniform. The 36-year-old impending free agent is eligible to be activated Oct. 1, but that is the last day of the regular season and it's unclear whether he'd be healthy anyway. Marco Luciano and Tyler Fitzgerald have both been brought up from Triple-A Sacramento to cover at shortstop down the stretch. Paul DeJong was given his release.

Crawford was removed from Wednesday's game in Arizona due to right hamstring tightness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Crawford may have tweaked his hamstring on a second-inning groundout, as Paul DeJong took over at shortstop for the Giants before the bottom of the third. This could wind up being a season-ending injury for Crawford even if it proves to be relatively minor, as the Giants only have 10 games left to go and have probably fallen too far back in the NL wild-card standings.