Carl Crawford

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Wednesday that Carl Crawford (wrist, elbow) is close to swinging.

Crawford will meet the Red Sox in Boston on Thursday and will undergo an evaluation at some point this weekend. If his elbow and wrist both check out fine, he should be cleared for baseball activities. The 30-year-old left fielder is aiming to return to the majors before the All-Star break.

Carl Crawford still has “thickness” in his elbow following an injection of platelet-rich plasma on April 26.

Crawford, who is nursing a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, will have an exam later this week and could be cleared to start swinging a bat again at that time. Originally placed on the DL due to his recovery from wrist surgery, Crawford’s elbow is the bigger issue at this point as he tries to return sometime before the All-Star break.

Red Sox transferred OF Carl Crawford from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

The move was made to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Crawford was recently diagnosed with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, but he could be cleared to swing a bat as soon as next week. If all goes well in his rehab, the high-priced outfielder could join the Red Sox before the All-Star break.

Carl Crawford (elbow) shagged balls Wednesday.

Crawford still isn’t throwing or swinging a bat, but is hoping to be cleared for both after a visit with team physicians next week. The 30-year-old is expected to join Boston’s starting lineup before the All-Star break.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald was told by a source that the Red Sox expect Carl Crawford (elbow) back by the All-Star break.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe initially suggested that Crawford could be out for three months, but the Red Sox are more optimistic. In fact, they think a return in June “isn’t out of the question.” Of course, it all depends on how the ulnar collateral ligament in Crawford’s elbow responds to treatment. He has already received a platelet rich plasma injection and has been shut down from baseball activities indefinitely.

The Red Sox announced Thursday night that Carl Crawford was diagnosed with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.

The team says a “conservative treatment protocol was recommended,” so Crawford will attempt to rehab the injury rather than have surgery. He was given a platelet rich plasma injection and will be shut down from baseball activity during the initial phase of his rehab. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported earlier in the evening Thursday that Crawford could miss as much as three months, but the team’s announcement did not include a timetable. However, they will be without him for an extended period of time.

Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com was told that Carl Crawford has an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of his left elbow which will not require surgery.

The exact timetable isn’t yet known, but McAdam hears that the Red Sox are hopeful he could return sooner than the three month timetable first reported by Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The Red Sox are expected to provide more details shortly, but it sounds like they’ll have to get by with Marlon Byrd, Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney in the outfield for the foreseeable future.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that it “looks like” Carl Crawford (elbow) will miss the next three months.

The Red Sox are expected to release a statement shortly, but it sounds like Crawford may require some sort of procedure on his ailing left elbow. It’s a terrible blow for Boston, who will already be without Jacoby Ellsbury (shoulder) until at least June. Stay tuned.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine revealed on WEEI Radio Network Wednesday that Carl Crawford may have actually first injured his elbow in February.

It was originally thought that he hurt it at the beginning of this month, but that might not be the case. “Today I heard from the training staff that he said he had a little feeling when he got to spring training,” Valentine said. “I never heard about that. I don’t know if the staff really did either. I don’t know if this is a major situation, but, again, I’m not close to the situation.” Crawford will visit Dr. James Andrews to receive a second opinion, and it seems likely that his early May timetable will be pushed back.