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Veteran outfielder Coco Crisp is heading back to his original team, as the Oakland Athletics traded him to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for left-handed pitcher Colt Hynes.

The Athletics announced the deal after the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com) first reported it Tuesday night. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported Crisp will join the Indians on Thursday and be added to the roster on Friday.

According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Indians will only pay for around $500,000 of Crisp’s salary, and the A’s are responsible for the rest.

Crisp is hitting .234 with 11 home runs, 47 RBI and seven stolen bases, which represents a solid bounce-back campaign after an injury-plagued 2015 season that saw him hit just .175 in 44 contests.

The 36-year-old veteran possesses some pop, has decent speed and is a slightly above-average defensive player in left field in terms of defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs.

Crisp also has 31 games of playoff experience, including a World Series ring, which he won with the Boston Red Sox in 2007. Cleveland traded the Los Angeles native to Boston in 2006 after three-plus seasons.

While Crisp has enjoyed some decent years since, including time with the Kansas City Royals and A’s, he has never returned to the form he displayed during his final two campaigns with Cleveland. He hit .299 with an average of 16 homers, 70 RBI and 18 stolen bases per year in that span.

Although the Indians aren’t expecting that type of production, Crisp provides outfield depth. Rajai Davis, Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall represent a below-average starting outfield to begin with, while Brandon Guyer and Abraham Almonte sit behind them.

Michael Brantley is out for the season due to a right shoulder injury, while Almonte is ineligible for the postseason due to an 80-game suspension he served for performance-enhancing drugs.

That left Cleveland with limited outfield flexibility entering the playoffs, but Crisp helps alleviate that.

He won’t be a difference-maker in winning the World Series, but having a player with his level of big-game experience should be a big help for a young Indians team.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

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After seven seasons, it appears outfielder Coco Crisp and the Oakland Athletics are headed for a contentious divorce. 

Continue for updates.

Crisp Accuses A’s of Benching Him for Financial Reasons

Tuesday, Aug. 16

Crisp said Monday the A’s have been avoiding playing him so his 2017 option does not kick in, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle: 

I’m extremely hurt, the way things are being handled. I’m not calling anyone names, but this is really frustrating and disappointing. This has been my favorite organization going back to when I was a kid, because of Rickey Henderson, and I’ve enjoyed playing here so much, and I’ve put it all out there. … Up until recently, it’s been tremendously enjoyable.

Crisp, 36, is due $13 million in 2017 should he appear in 130 games. He has appeared in 93 of 119 games so far, meaning he can only miss five more games for that option to vest.

While the veteran has not spent any time on the disabled list, the A’s have become increasingly picky about when they play him. Manager Bob Melvin has sat Crisp 13 times since the beginning of July after leaving him out as many times in the first three months of the season—four of which were due to a lingering heel injury.

Crisp has been relegated to the bench against left-handed pitchers, and he has become suspicious of the team’s motives when he hasn’t been used as a pinch hitter.

“This is shady. Everyone else is getting used off the bench,” Crisp said. “[Melvin] can’t even look me in the eye right now.”

Crisp is hitting .239/.307/.410 with 10 home runs and 46 runs batted in. He has spent the last seven seasons in Oakland, making him the longest-tenured player on the roster. The A’s could look to move him before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline, but Crisp has 10-and-5 rights.

“But this team has never been motivated to give up a dollar,” Crisp’s agent, Steve Comte, said. “I know Billy Beane has always been fond of Coco, but what they’re doing now is really a joke. I’ve advised Coco to take the high road, but the way things are going is a disservice to him.”

The path to playing time will become even more difficult in September when rosters expand to 40 players. It seems almost preordained that Crisp will leave the place he’s played for nearly half of his career with a bad taste in his mouth.

With the A’s sitting at 52-67 and well out of contention, though, it’s hard to blame them for wanting to give younger guys time if Crisp isn’t in their plans.

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Major League Baseball announced Friday that it has suspended Oakland Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp one game for throwing his bat toward an umpire during Thursday night’s game against the Houston Astros.  

The incident came in the fifth inning when Crisp took a curveball that he believed was low for strike two. He later struck out swinging on a similar pitch, and while walking away from umpire D.J. Reyburn, Crisp tossed his bat toward the umpire’s feet and was immediately ejected.

According to John Hickey of Bay Area News Group, Crisp spoke about the incident after Thursday’s game and wasn’t sure if there was a punishment in his future:

I didn’t hit him, but it was way too close, obviously. Today just happened… This has never happened to me before. I don’t know what happens in these situations. We’ll see. 

I did go back and look at it, first to look at the one before that one, and then to look at that one. When I walked off, I wanted to just flick it back. It was a kind of `see if you can hit it’ type of mentality.

Then when I went and looked at it, I came out way too hot.

The 15-year veteran is no stranger to the league’s justice system, as he’s exhibited a short fuse before during his career. 

In 2008 as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Crisp charged the mound after James Shields, who at the time was with the Kansas City Royals, plunked him in the leg at Fenway Park:

MLB suspended him seven games for his role in the fight in what would be his last year with the Red Sox.

Crisp has been a member of the Athletics since 2010, when he became a solid leadoff man thanks to his blazing speed. He led the league with 49 steals in 2011 and had 39 the next year.

But now at 36 years old, Crisp is trying to keep his career afloat after a dismal 2015 campaign in which he batted .175 in 44 games. 

This season, he’s batting .243 with seven home runs, 37 RBI and five stolen bases, which is significantly better than last year. However, for at least for one moment Thursday night, his frustration got the best of him and landed him in some trouble with the league.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com

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Oakland Athletics star Coco Crisp has been placed on the disabled list after suffering from neck issues.

Continue for updates.

Crisp Placed on 15-Day DL

Saturday, May 23

The A’s officially placed Crisp on the 15-day disabled list and recalled Kendall Graveman from Nashville, the team announced. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle noted Crisp won’t have surgery.

“Surgery could resolve the neck injury, which is a mechanical neck pain issue, but it would involve fusing vertebrae, and that would end Crisp’s career; neck fusion causes a loss in neck mobility, and if you can’t turn your head, you can’t play baseball,” wrote Slusser.

“No surgery unless Crisp opts to retire,” Slusser added. But here’s the good thing: Trigger point treatment worked well for Crisp last year, so is expected to again. And the hope is that he can back to pain free, as he was until slamming down hard in left on a catch attempt at Houston on Tuesday.” 

The 35-year-old has played 13 games this year and is batting .044 with a stolen base to his name. 

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Coco Crisp almost made a spectacular catch to rob Chris Iannetta of a home run Friday, but the fact that the ball went over the wall was the least of the Oakland Athletics’ concerns. Scott Miller of Bleacher Report and Brodie Brazil of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area filled fans in on the details:

Crisp left the game before the next pitch was thrown.

The Athletics need a healthy Crisp going forward, especially in this critical series against the Los Angeles Angels. Oakland is staring up at the Angels in the American League West as we enter the stretch run of the season, and a division title and home-field advantage in the playoffs are on the line. 

What’s more, Crisp has been a productive member of the lineup and in the field this season. He is hitting .254 with nine home runs, 45 RBI and 16 stolen bases. It is his speed that helps him change the game by disrupting pitchers on the basepaths and covering plenty of ground in the outfield.

Stay tuned for updates as they develop.

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Oakland Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp debuted an interesting hair style on Friday night.

During the team’s game against the Minnesota Twins, Crisp was seen sporting his new ‘do. Whatever happened back there might have worked, as he had a big bases-clearing triple early in the game to help give the Athletics a 6-5 win.

[MLB.com]

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Even as the Oakland A’s fight for their second consecutive American West League Championship over the last six weeks of the Major League Baseball season, there is a truth that should hearten fans in the East Bay and everywhere else: This team is built to last. They are young and—although inconsistent at times—this team’s core is full of talent. 

With that said, even as this team fights to secure a spot in the postseason, they will likely be underdogs to capture the team’s first title in 24 years. However, with the nucleus likely in tact, it isn’t too early to project how the team’s starting lineup might look in 2014. Here is my highly unofficial look at that lineup, but first and just for fun, here was a projection NBC Sports baseball writer Matthew Pouliot had in February 2012.

Lineup
2B Jemile Weeks
CF Grant Green
1B Daric Barton
RF Yoenis Cespedes
DH Seth Smith
3B Scott Sizemore
LF Michael Choice
C Derek Norris
SS Cliff Pennington

Obviously Pouliot could not account for trades and other factors but look at that lineup. Two players are no longer with the club (Green and Pennington), two have fallen so far that they can’t get playing time in Oakland (Weeks and Barton), and two lost their jobs due to either injury (Sizemore) or lack of production (Norris). 

As a matter of fact, the only player you can say will be on this team in 2014 is Yoenis Cespedes. And you know what?

That is not a bad thing.

Billy Beane converted a middling roster on the fly into a potential back to back division champion. So anyone who projected Oakland’s lineup for next year would be inaccurate.

So, what will that lineup look like in 2014? Here is my take:

2B Jed Lowrie

Lowrie is not a conventional lead-off hitter, but with Coco Crisp turning 34 and hitting free agency, I have a feeling the A’s will need a new bat at the top of the lineup. Lowrie has been steady, if not spectacular, at the plate and that is the kind of player the A’s need leading off.

DH Seth Smith

I have a feeling that 2013 was more of a fluke for Smith even though, for the second year in a row, his batting average has paled in comparison to his production in Colorado. Who doesn’t struggle when compared to time spent at Coors Field? I expect to see the power return and Smith is a solid number two guy initially.

CF Yoenis Cespedes

Cespedes will move to his natural centerfield with the departure of Crisp. My lofty predictions might have to wait a year, but I think Cespedes will have a big year in 2014. 

RF Josh Reddick

Much like fellow neo-Bash Brother Cespedes, Reddick has had a largely underwhelming 2013. Is he as bad as he has been this year? No. Is he as good as he was in his 32 home run, Gold-Glove-winning 2012? Maybe not. But something in between would be a nice improvement for the A’s at this spot.

3B Josh Donaldson

Donaldson’s year has not been a fluke. While ultimately this position will be filled by phenom Addison Russell, for now Donaldson is entrenched at the hot corner for the A’s. 

1B Brandon Moss

Moss was destined for a fall off after a pretty remarkable burst in 2012 (.291/.358/.596 splits) which saw him smash 21 home runs in 84 games. So even though he is hitting under .240 and has few home runs after 110+ games than he did in all of 2012, Moss is still the man at this spot. He may alternate time with— 

LF Michael Choice

The curveball comes with prospect Michael Choice. Scouted as an all-or-nothing type power-hitter, Choice has displayed an improved eye in 2013 and, while his power numbers have dipped, he looks like a better hitter. Choice impressed in the spring and probably would have been the first guy from Triple-A in the outfield if the A’s weren’t so deep at that spot. He gets his chance in 2014.

C Derek Norris

If John Jaso were to ‘win’ the battle at catcher (imagine them likely platooning next year again), you could swap Jaso and Smith at the number two and eight spots. But I think Norris gets a chance to finally put a solid season together. Ultimately, whoever is behind the plate must improve defensively as the A’s catchers have struggled in 2013.

SS Hiroyuki Nakajima

Nakajima has a giant INC for a grade next to his 2013 as his spring injury and the play of Lowrie and Eric Sogard kept him from getting up to Oakland. But the contract plus the talent (he is up to .293 at Triple-A Sacramento) will merit an opportunity for the Japanese star. At least initially.

So there you have it. I think the A’s might try to bring Chris Young back at a discounted price, but he will likely draw attention on the free agent market. Alberto Callaspo should step in for Adam Rosales as the A’s utility player du jour in 2014. That is a marked improvement. I look at Eric Sogard backing up Nakajima more in terms of money than production because quite simply, we don’t know what the Japanese star has yet. 

Ultimately, some of the major components to upgrade the roster are likely a couple years away still. This includes Russell, Renato Nunez, and not Michael Taylor. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Taylor reminds me of that line from the X-Files: I want to believe. But after all this time, it is pretty clear that in Oakland, he is a AAAA player and not the potential stud he appeared to be when acquired. 

Oakland’s offense will improve as key components improve. I’m not saying that there might not be a trade or two as well as a couple of signings. But these will likely add to depth and not supplant the core players currently on the roster. What you see is what you get. And, even though the little things drive you crazy as an A’s fan (situational hitting!), there is still enough talent to win again next year.

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After their first 40 games, the Oakland A’s are 20-20 in the 2013 season.

Remember 2012? The A’s started 20-20 as well. In 2006, The A’s—led by Frank Thomas—rode a five-game winning streak to get to 21-19 after 40 games. 

Historically, the A’s have tended to be a slow-starting team. Under manager Bob Geren, the club never started better than 23-17 through 40 games (2008) and started as slowly as 15-25 (2009) while opening 20-20 three times. 

Go back to the Moneyball era when the A’s opened 21-19 (2000), 18-22 (2001) and 19-21 (2002) after 40 games. Oakland went on to win 91, 102, and 103 games those three seasons, respectively.

In many ways, the 12-4 start that the Athletics have raced out to this season was a bit of fool’s gold. Eleven of those 12 wins came at the expense of AL West foes Seattle, Los Angeles (Angels) and Houston. Those teams sit a combined 31 games under .500 heading into Tuesday, May 14.

Once the torrid starts by guys like Jed Lowrie and Seth Smith died down, so did the early offense. Add to those laws of averages the injuries to Coco Crisp, Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Reddick, Brett Anderson and Jarrod Parker as reality dragged the A’s back down to earth.

The only thing is that this is still a very talented team. WIth a quarter of the season gone, the projected Oakland lineup has played less than 15 total games together. Even if the A’s don’t duplicate their wins from 2012, there is no way that Anderson and Parker continue to post ERA’s of 6.21 and 6.86,  respectively. 

It is still a marathon in the game of baseball and right now, the A’s have run roughly 6.5 of the 26.2-mile 2013 race. They’re just getting warmed up.

Relax and hope that players like Daric Barton can hold the fort down when called upon until all of the gang gets back. When they do, the A’s will take off like they traditionally do when the talent takes the field in Oakland. 

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As the 2013 Major League Baseball season race reaches the quarter pole, it becomes time to take stock of where teams and players are in terms of production. 

In the American League West, the Texas Rangers have taken their customary position of being the front runner, largely due to tremendous pitching and consistent power in the lineup. The A’s and Mariners have both been largely inconsistent, with the A’s scuffling back to .500 since starting the year 12-4. 

However, the biggest story has been the lack of success in Anaheim as the Los Angeles Angels are not fighting for an expected spot at the top, but trying to keep clear of division newcomers the Houston Astros. In the basement.

There have been solid performances from individuals on all five teams. But sometimes, overlapping positions keep deserving players from receiving deserved accolades. This will likely be no exception. 

So instead of lamenting who is not, we shall spotlight who is. Starting with catcher and ending a pitching rotation (relievers included), here is the AL West’s Quarter-Pole All-Star Team.

Begin Slideshow

Say what you will, but Billy Beane is not averse to making decisive moves. Adding guys like John Jaso and Jed Lowrie may not be as sexy as Josh Hamilton, but the Oakland Athletics have further addressed offseason deficiencies with their moves. 

With Lowrie in the fold, the A’s now have someone with real Major League pop to fill in voids all over the infield. That means players like Eric Sogard and Adam “Skolnick” Rosales have less at-bats in meaningful situations. I like them both, but neither should be hitting more than 70 times a year in the big leagues. 

The reality is, the A’s were not far away last year and the two biggest holes in the lineup have been addressed with a trio of potentially big time upgrades in Jaso, Lowrie, and Hiro Nakajima. Yes, losing Chris Carter has the potential to take home runs away from the lineup. As a matter of fact, I anticipate that happening. 

However, you sometimes have to pull from a position of strength to address a position of weakness. There is no guarantee what Nakajima will give the A’s.

Lowrie would be a fantastic alternative at shortstop. He also fits at second, third, and first base as well. Scott Sizemore hasn’t played second base in the Major Leagues with any consistency. In other words, having a player with a real pedigree in waiting can only help this infield.

But the separation Oakland has from both Texas and Los Angeles, er Anaheim, is in the starting pitching. One to five, no team in the AL West is better than the A’s in terms of pitching. The Angels tried to address their deficiencies with outsiders Jason Vargas, Tommy Hanson, and Joe Blanton. Good luck. They aren’t on the level of the departed Zack Greinke, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana. 

Meanwhile, Texas has issues with a lack of starting pitching and the potential issues with Nelson Cruz being implicated in the most recent PED scandal in baseball. The reality is, Oakland’s status quo is still the best in the division until proven otherwise. No team has the depth of pitching combined with a solid lineup one through nine in the division. Oakland doesn’t have a Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Felix Hernandez, Yu Darvish, or any other marquee name (though Yoenis Cespedes is darn close) yet.

What they still have is the best overall team in the American League West.

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