Crawford agrees to four-year, $15.25 million deal with Tampa

Tampa Bay All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford agreed Friday to a $15.25 million, four-year contract that could be worth up to $32.5 million over six seasons.

The two-rime A.L. stolen base champion, who is 23, gets a $500,000 signing bonus, $500,000 this year, $2.5 million in 2006, $4 million in 2007 and $5.25 million in 2008.

Tampa Bay has an $8.25 million option for 2009 with a $2.5 million buyout. If the Devil Rays exercise that option, the team gets a $10 million option for 2010 with a $1.25 million buyout.

In addition, the contract includes escalators that could boost Crawford’s salary to $11.5 million in the final year.

Braves, Indians will go 11 innings

The Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves are planning for extra innings today.

After Friday night’s exhibition game was canceled because of rain, the teams said they intend to go 11 innings today – whether the score is tied or not.

Atlanta wants Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton and John Thomson – all starting pitchers – to throw. Hudson was scheduled to start Friday.

Cleveland’s scheduled starter Friday night, Kevin Millwood, pitched a simulated game Friday to remain on a normal schedule. Cliff Lee is scheduled to start for the Indians today.

Schilling goes on DL

Curt Schilling was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Boston Red Sox, a move that was expected as he works his way back from off-season ankle surgery.

Manager Terry Francona said the right-hander will pitch against minor leaguers two more times, and then is tentatively scheduled to start for the Red Sox against the New York Yankees on April 13 at Fenway Park.

Clearing the bases

The Royals placed third baseman Chris Truby and right-handed reliever Scott Sullivan on the DL. … Infielder Carlos Baerga was reassigned to the Nationals’ minor league camp and will try to catch on with another team. The move got the Nationals active roster down to the 25-man limit. The final spot goes to infielder Tony Blanco, selected from Cincinnati in the winter meeting draft. … Brad Halsey beat out Michael Gosling for the final spot in the Diamondbacks’ rotation. … Yankees right-hander Kevin Brown left his final spring outing after three innings with back pain and could miss his first scheduled regular-season start next week. … Right-hander Kerry Ligtenberg was released by the Blue Jays, who placed left-hander Ted Lilly on the 15-day DL. … Kris Benson‘s first regular-season start was pushed back two days because the Mets pitcher has a strained right pectoral muscle. … Veteran infielder Jose Offerman‘s contract was purchased by Philadelphia, completing the Phillies’ 25-man roster. The Phillies also placed right-hander Vicente Padilla on the DL retroactive to March 25. He will be eligible to come off April 9. … Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was placed on the 15-day DL for the first time in his career because of a sprained right elbow. Also, Dodgers executives Lon Rosen and Gary Miereanu are no longer employed by the team following a front-office shakeup. … The Athletics got two more new owners: GM Billy Beane and team president Michael Crowley.