Pending Options Spotlight: Coco Crisp

A brief timeline of Coco Crisp the Athletic:

12/23/2009: Signed
5/21/2010: Played in his first regular season game
5/22/2010: Played in his second regular season game
6/22/2010: Played in his third regular season game

Health is a tool and one that Crisp forgot to pack. He did finish with 328 plate appearances on the season and played well when he took the field, easily earning his four million and change on a Wins Above Replacement to dollars conversion. He even earned the option part of the deal, which means the Athletics are playing with house money when they make the decision to either exercise or decline the option.

What should they do? Hard to say. Crisp’s fragility is a legitimate concern, albeit one lessened by the length of the commitment. He has not racked up more than 500 plate appearances in a season since 2007. This particular tidbit will not come into play in 2011, but Crisp has not received 500-plus plate appearances in consecutive seasons since 2004-2005 – back then he wore Cleveland garb. If he can manage 500 plate appearances, then he is probably good for at least two wins, as he’s probably good for a plus defensive performance and a line resembling his 2008-2010 tally of .270/.342/.412.

On the other hand, the Athletics already have Travis Buck, Rajai Davis, Ryan Sweeney, Chris Carter, Conor Jackson, and perhaps Michael Taylor around for next season. Even if you place Carter and Taylor in the minors, dismiss Gabe Gross and Jackson, and throw Buck on the disabled list – it’s bound to happen – that leaves the outfield packed with three defensive-heavy, offensive-light centerfielders. Whether the law of diminishing returns comes into play or not is overblown, but you wonder if the Athletics could benefit a little by diversifying their assets.

The Athletics could always exercise Crisp’s option then look to trade him (or one of the others) which might be the most reasonable route. The free agent center field market is putrid at best and the younger names out there will certainly demand a better return. That makes Crisp something like the most feasible center fielder available, regardless of what the A’s decide.