Report: Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford to have Tommy John surgery

Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford will have Tommy John surgery Thursday. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images Sport)

Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford will have Tommy John surgery on Thursday, the team announced Monday.

The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham first reported that Crawford and the team were planning to go ahead with the season-ending surgery on his left (throwing) arm. Crawford missed the start of the season because of his injured ulnar collateral ligament.

Crawford played only 31 games this season. He hit .282 with three home runs.

He has not lived up to expectations since signing a $142 million contract with the Red Sox in December 2010. Last season, his first in Boston, he hit .255 with only 11 home runs. This year, he battled injuries, and he did hit better in his time on the field.

But he has yet to be the dynamic threat the Red Sox thought they were getting. In his nine seasons with Tampa Bay, Crawford hit .296 and led the AL in triples four times. He has only nine triples in his time with Boston.