One of the biggest reasons for the Tampa Bay Rays’ emergence as an American League powerhouse has been Carl Crawford. The 1999 second round pick has grown up and become a premier major league left fielder, but when his 2010 season comes to an end, so will his contract and likely his time in St. Petersburg. Crawford will be a free agent this winter and will entertain offers from most of the teams in the league.

Crawford is having an excellent season. He’s batting .299 with 13 home runs and 24 doubles. He’s only driven in 62, but scored 82 himself; thanks largely to his 35 stole bases. He also made the all-star roster for the fourth time in his career. At just 28-years-old, Crawford is in the prime of his career, and he can offer a heck of a lot to any team that’s willing to pony up the cash that he’ll demand.

The Yankees seem to be the best suitor for Crawford; well, at least the one that can pay him the most. Crawford is making $10 million this season, but the Yankees could easily double that. It’s not like the Yankees have ever been shy about throwing their money at free agents. Their current outfield of Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher pale in comparison to Crawford, who is an upgrade over each of them individually.

The only thing that may hold Crawford back from the Yankees would be if they decide to target other high-priced free agents like Cliff Lee or Justin Morneau. A few seasons ago New York picked up all of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, showing they have no problem with spending more on three players than virtually every other team on their entire roster. However, Crawford may be the most sought after agent this winter, and his asking price might only be met by baseball’s most expensive franchise.