Free agent outfielder Carl Crawford expected to retire

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Four-time All-Star Carl Crawford has earned more than $170 million during his 15-year MLB career.

But a Los Angeles Dodgers official recently told the Boston Globe that the 35-year-old outfielder has "pretty much called it a career."

Crawford was cut by the Dodgers in June, after being demoted to the minor leagues. He signed a seven-year, $142 million contract with the team in 2013. Crawford hit .185 and had six RBI in 30 games in 2016. He has a .290 career batting average in 15 major league seasons. He has led the league in stolen bases and triples four times.

"Carl's entire career, he's worked really hard and played really hard, and ultimately that takes a toll on your body," Dodgers' president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told the Los Angeles Times.

"We just felt we had gotten to a point where this made the most sense for all parties involved."

He played the first nine years of his career for the Tampa Bay Rays, before joining the Boston Red Sox in 2011. Crawford was traded in his second season with the Red Sox.

The Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin reported in June that the Rays "would at least talk about a reunion with Crawford.

Crawford is due $21 million in 2017. His 480 career stolen bases rank No. 3 among active players, behind Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Reyes.