Oakland Athletics: Coco Crisp Frustrated With Lack of Playing Time

Oakland Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp doesn’t see field often these days, and the veteran outfielder is not happy about it.

Veteran outfielder Coco Crisp has seen his playing time diminish this season with the Oakland Athletics, and Crisp suggested it may be a strategic move by the team. On Monday, Crisp spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle about his current situation, and his stance is clear. Crisp, who is in his seventh season with the Athletics, is not happy with how things have unfolded.

Crisp isn’t simply angered by not playing. He has a very good reason to want to see the field. Or, more precisely, 13 million reasons.

Crisp’s contract calls for a vesting option in 2017. If Crisp plays in 130 of Oakland’s 162 games this season, the 2017 season will vest, and Crisp would be set to earn $13 million next year. Entering Tuesday, Oakland has 43 games left in the 2016 season, and Crisp has played in 93 games. Crisp needs 37 more appearances in order for his option to vest, but with the A’s going to a youth movement, it may be unlikely that he reaches 130 games.

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There are two differing points of view to this story. Oakland is justifying its youth movement by the fact that they continue to be in the lower portion of the AL West. Going into Tuesday, Oakland is 52-67, 17.5 games back of Texas. In the team’s point of view, they are not going to the playoffs. There is nothing to lose by seeing what some of the younger talent can do. From Crisp’s point of view, it’s clear he feels slighted.

“I’m extremely hurt, the way things are being handled,” Crisp told the San Francisco Chronicle. “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 has been relegated to a bench role, but to even call it a “role” may be overstating it at this point. “This is shady,” Crisp said. “Everyone else is getting used off the bench, [Athletics manager Bob Melvin] can’t even look me in the eye right now.”

Indeed, it sounds like an awkward situation the team and Crisp find themselves in.

As the Chronicle notes, the vesting option was put in place to begin with because Crisp has suffered multiple injuries during his A’s tenure. In theory, if he stayed healthy, he would’ve earned the 2017 option. But that, of course, was under the assumption that he would play so long as he was healthy, which lately has not been the case.

To Crisp’s credit, he has been healthy this year. In his view, he’s likely done everything in his power to put himself in position to have the option vest. The team, though, is taking a different route.

There has been speculation for a while now that perhaps this was bothering Crisp. The fact that he spoke openly about it leaves no doubt to be had. There is a rift here, or at least a difference of opinion.

In Oakland, Crisp has been regarded as an ideal teammate. A key piece to the Athletics’ recipe, even when he did miss time due to injuries. If the Athletics are deliberately keeping Crisp on the bench to avoid paying him next season, the MLBPA may take issue with that. But from the Athletics’ perspective, it isn’t unusual for a team out of contention to play young players late in the season.

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As things stand, it seems very unlikely that Crisp will hit the requirement to make his option vest. But seeing as how he feels disrespected by the team, and the team doesn’t seem inclined to play his regardless of his good health, it may be best for the two sides to part at the end of the season anyway.

For Crisp’s sake, it’s unfortunate that it will likely come at the eight-figure cost of $13 million.

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