The Oakland Athletics sign Coco Crisp to a two year deal worth $14 million with a team option for 2014. Crisp will be paid $6 million in 2012, $7 million in 2013, and in 2014, the A's will either pick up an option worth $7.5 million or pay a $1 million buyout.
- Huh?
- I'll be honest, I don't get this one, Brad Pi... I mean Billy Beane. This offseason, the A's have dealt away talented young players entering their prime (Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Andrew Bailey, Craig Breslow) for even younger prospects who are years away from major league contributions and have let players in the latter half of their prime (Josh Willingham, David DeJesus) walk, all presumably in an attempt for a total rebuild. All of their actions signal the raising up of the white flag before the 2012 even starts. And then they sign Coco Crisp, a mediocre player entering the downside of his career, to a multi-year contract in which he makes just enough money to successfully block some young prospect outfielder from getting playing time. I don't get it.
- Crisp is still fairly speedy (49 stolen bases last year), and is a decent defensive outfielder. But he has little power, a middling average, and absolutely no upside. And don't look for the Moneyball on-base magic, as Crisp has an ugly .330 career .OBP mark over a large sample size. For a team like where the A's are right now, Coco Crisp makes no sense.
- So what is the angle? There has to be some reason to sign Crisp. Right? Maybe this team is so devoid of talent and personality, they needed to find the cheapest possible "face of the franchise," and who better than a guy with an Afro who is named after a cereal. Enjoy your Coco Crisp bobble-head night, Oakland fans!
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