Dodgers designate Carl Crawford for assignment

The Dodgers designated outfielder Carl Crawford for assignment Sunday, according to a team announcement. The team needed roster space for its promotion of Austin Barnes.

Los Angeles is still on the hook for the rest of Crawford's contract, and will owe him about $35 million over the next two years. Crawford is in the second-to-last year of the 7-year, $142 million contract he signed with the Red Sox before the 2011 season.

In parts of four injury-filled seasons with the Dodgers, Crawford hit .278/.320/.400 with 18 home runs and 48 steals in 320 games. The former Rays star has never been the same since leaving Tampa Bay after 2011, hitting just .185/.230/.235 in 30 games this season.

The Dodgers have Joc Pederson, Trayce Thompson, Scott Van Slyke, Enrique Hernandez and Howie Kendrick in their current outfield mix, with Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier currently on the disabled list. With all of those options available, Crawford was the odd man out.

Multiple teams will likely be willing to give Crawford a chance once he is officially released, as they would only have to pay him the major-league minimum salary. The Giants are one team known to be looking for outfielders in the wake of Hunter Pence's injury.