The Cleveland Indians are trying to improve their team as we head into the last month of the MLB season. On Wednesday, they acquired outfielder Coco Crisp from the Oakland Athletics.
Initial reports of the trade came out on Tuesday night. The deal became on official on Wednesday, with the Indians receiving Crisp and cash in exchange for minor-league pitcher Colt Hynes. Crisp joins an Indians club that is currently sitting in first place in the AL Central. After their 2016 season got off to a mediocre start, Cleveland really started playing well in June. They had a 14-game winning streak spanning from mid-June until early July. Before the trade deadline, they acquired relief pitcher Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees. Even though they’re in first place, the Indians are still attempting to get better before the postseason arrives. Adding Crisp will help them do this.
Crisp, 36, has now returned to the place where his career started. He was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 1999 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. After spending a few years in their farm system, he was traded to the Indians. Crisp made his MLB debut on August 15, 2002. He spent four seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Boston Red Sox following the 2005 season. Even though his tenure in Cleveland was short, Crisp was able to make a name for himself there. A speedy, switch-hitting center field with a great name, he became a fan-favorite. Now those same Indian fans who cheered for him in the early-2000s will get to watch him play once again.
Crisp spent three years in Boston before being traded to the Kansas City Royals. After an unsuccessful season in Kansas City that included a season-ending injury, he signed with the Athletics. He remained in Oakland until he was traded earlier this week. Some of the best years of Crisp’s career came with the Athletics. In 2011, he stole a career-high 49 bases. Arguably the best season of Crisp’s career was 2013, when he batted .261 with 22 home runs and 66 RBIs.
Crisp will definitely get some playing time with the Indians. Michael Bourn had to have season-ending shoulder in early August. Ever since then, Cleveland has been looking for another outfielder to replace him. It looks like they’ve found their guy in Crisp.
Because he’s a switch-hitter, Crisp will most likely play against righties and lefties. Even though he’s getting up there in age, that doesn’t mean he still can’t be a good everyday player. This season with Oakland he was hitting .234 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs.
Coco Crisp is back in Cleveland. For once, it’s an exciting time to be a sports figure in that city. The Cavaliers just won the NBA Championship and now the Indians have a legitimate chance to win the World Series. Crisp now has the chance to be a part of all of this.