LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers designated Carl Crawford for assignment on Sunday, ending the oft-injured outfielder's time in Los Angeles.
Crawford, 34, was hitting .185 with two doubles and six RBIs in 30 games for the Dodgers this season. He hit .278 with 18 home runs and 99 RBIs in four seasons with the Dodgers after being acquired from Boston in a nine-player trade in August 2012, never playing in more than 116 games in a season because of various injuries.
"I know he was proud to be a Dodger. He's going to be missed," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "People that are close to him can see the frustration that he had day to day getting his body to perform. It just wasn't happening. There's a point where we've got to make that decision and realize what's best for our organization."
The Dodgers still owe Crawford $21.8 million for next season, plus approximately $17 million of his $22.6 million salary this year.
While he didn't produce in line with his salary, which the Dodgers understood would happen when they acquired him, he was still appreciated as a clubhouse presence.
"Carl was one of the most dynamic players in baseball. Elite athlete, really good bat-to-ball skills, tremendous defender," Dodgers president Andrew Friedman said. "It's something that is inevitable for every player as they get later on in their career and things start to slow down. It has an effect.
"It's definitely not from a lack of work ethic. Again, he's among the hardest-working players I've ever been around. It's never an easy thing to do, but unsurprisingly, he was a tremendous pro about it. We wish him nothing but the best in whatever he decides to do going forward."
Adrian Gonzalez, who joined the Dodgers in the same trade as Crawford, echoed Friedman's sentiment.
"Always been a great teammate, one of the funniest guys I've been around. He always played the game right and played the game hard," Gonzalez said.
Catcher/infielder Austin Barnes, the club's No. 11-ranked prospect, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Crawford on the 25-man roster.
Barnes, 26, was hitting .306 with a .413 on-base percentage in 37 games at Triple-A. He was on the Dodgers' Opening Day roster, going 2-for-15 before being optioned to Oklahoma City on April 15.
"Any time you get up here, it's a good opportunity for you," Barnes said. "Just trying to get better down there, with catching, hitting. Just trying to elevate my whole game and working with the pitchers. There's a lot of good pitchers down there. Urias, De Leon, Cotton. A lot of good guys."
Roberts said that Barnes will have a role much more flexible than a third catcher, saying that the rookie could appear at second base, third base and in the outfield. Barnes appeared as a second baseman in two games with Los Angeles and in six with Oklahoma City. He also got starts at third and center field with OKC.