by Sports Xchange

Both Crawford and the Rays are said to be "very interested" in discussing a long-term deal that would allow Crawford, 28, to remain with the only team he has played for.

But reaching an agreement is likely to be difficult.

Crawford is the Rays' all-time leader in hits, games, RBIs and steals, and he is coming off arguably the best of his eight seasons. But he has been playing under a long-term deal that has left him underpaid compared with other players with similar accomplishments, and it seems likely he will want to be compensated at a higher level. The Rays, however, would seem unlikely to have the resources to commit the $12 million to $15 million a year it would take to do so.

An extension, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said, is "going to take some creativity."

If the Rays don't feel they can re-sign Crawford, they would have to decide whether to trade him during the offseason, wait until the July deadline to see if they are in the race, or keep him and take the draft-pick compensation.

"Carl is a big part of what we've accomplished and what we will accomplish in the future," Friedman said.