Coco Crisp: Almost a Tampa Bay Ray?

by James Westfall on Jan 4, 2012 10:08 PM EST

"Coco Crisp, who agreed to a two-year, $14MM deal with the Athletics yesterday, told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that the Rays were a finalist for him (Twitter links). Tampa Bay was “in heavy on” the outfielder, but Oakland presented the better offer, according to Slusser."

What's up everybody? This is my 1st FanPost and as a Bay Area native and a Rays appreciator I was wondering what the community thought of this type of acquisition? Obviously the deal didn't go through but I was hoping to hear some opinions on Crisp, the contract he did sign, what you think the Rays offer would have been, etc.. Since the sentiment on this board is that the Rays need to add a 1B/DH and OF depth is not a real glaring weakness and CF is Upton territory. Does this forebode the departure of Upton? Does he leave via trade or free agency? There are several questions that arise when examining the signing that wasn't and I would like to hear what the DRaysBay community has to say.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Fuck Coco Crisp.

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by QW on Sep 28, 2011 9:47 PM CDT

by SandalsNoPants on Jan 4, 2012 10:17 PM EST reply actions

This does not mean BJ Upton is gone...

It WOULD have if the deal went through. But it didn’t, so that does not mean that they’re going to trade him anyway.

by Roy J on Jan 4, 2012 10:32 PM EST reply actions

I disagree

Why is it impossible that Upton and Crisp could co exist? I’m pretty sure Crisp would platoon in LF? I don’t think Jennings is “regression proof.” I doubt AF does either.

by elijah.dukes on Jan 5, 2012 1:35 AM EST up reply actions

lol

Jennings and Crisp platooning in LF?

The OF would be Jennings-Upton-Crisp with Joyce at 1B or DH.

by mr. maniac on Jan 5, 2012 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

i dont know why they would slot crisp in RF

he has a weak arm and his defensive range while good might not make up for his arm…plus crisp has averaged 104 games per season over his 10 year career…he is not the kind of guy I would be looking to sign for multiple years and big money. AF probably low-balled him and tried to sell him on winning and I know Crisp wanted to sign in a place where he could start and get paid.

Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.

by James Westfall on Jan 5, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

Man, am I glad the Rays didn't sign Crisp.

He projects to be league average in hitting and fielding while being a plus runner … but, the Rays don’t need another player patrolling the OF (Joyce, Jennings, Upton, Fuld, Guyer) and they should concentrate on inking 2 well-sound power bats for 1B/DH.

AND … Coco Crisp is an PEEP

by BurGi on Jan 5, 2012 3:05 AM EST reply actions

sorry, I'm not familiar with "an PEEP" ?

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by pudieron89 on Jan 5, 2012 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

I read this and its wierd

Didnt he get 2 yrs 14m? I doubt the Rays were anywhere near that….considering we have fairly good OF depth.

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by OneTonneBaby on Jan 5, 2012 7:41 AM EST reply actions

Rays probably offered more...but he thought better of it

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by OneTonneBaby on Jan 5, 2012 7:44 AM EST reply actions

I love this picture

I cannot begin to fathom how a guy with a below-average bat (but, to be fair, terrific baserunning and good defense) who’s never healthy could begin to be worth $7MM AAV to any team, let alone the Rays, and particularly for multiple years.

Crisp would essentially replace Guyer — meaning that the Rays would likely downgrade defensively for whatever bump in basestealing he offers. I can’t see how that improves the team even if Crisp were available at the league minimum.

I don’t get it.

by AndrewTorrez on Jan 5, 2012 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

I can’t see how that improves the team even if Crisp were available at the league minimum.

this is what my thinking as well.

Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.

by James Westfall on Jan 5, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

If you believe their interest in Crisp, it begs the question (and the answer) as to how serious the Rays are in moving Upton before ST.

Crisp would have been the CF’er..not a RF’er where he has never played(and doesn’t project with his arm) and I don’t buy into freeing up Joyce to be the DH or 1st baseman on this team. And he would not have been a high paid platoon with Jennings in LF. That being the case, why not more discussion on a potential Upton trade?

by budman3 on Jan 5, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

it's tough to find a great fit for Upton

we know the Nationals have a strong interest in him, but they’ve pretty much emptied out their tradeable minor-leaguers already, so unless you like seeing deals headlined by Steve Lombardozzi, there’s not much to talk about there.

I can’t really come up with another contender that desperately needs a CF. I think Upton would be a good fit on the Royals, but they seem to be impossible to deal with.

by AndrewTorrez on Jan 6, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

Upton and E.Johnson to the Braves for Prado and Bethancourt.

They have been after Adam Jones(a CF’er) for some reason but can’t pull it off. I assume Bourne would move to LF for them. Upton wouldn’t cost as much and they seem open to moving Prado. Johnson gives them the utility IF’er they want and Bethancourt(blocked by McCann) would be nice for 2013.

by budman3 on Jan 7, 2012 12:36 PM EST reply actions

I would really like Prado

I’m not even remotely mocking you on this. Prado should be a target. He plays everywhere, and he has experience at 1b. He wouldn’t be the prototypical 1b, but man, it would be a bad season (2011 babip’d) for him to not outdo what Kotch did in 2011. Buy low, please!

by SandalsNoPants on Jan 7, 2012 9:06 PM EST up reply actions