Originally Posted by boston.com

Sox hope to work Indians to a Crisp

By Chris Snow, Globe Staff | January 21, 2006

The Red Sox, in their ongoing quest to replace center fielder Johnny Damon, continue to work diligently with the Indians on a six-player deal, at the center of which is Coco Crisp, a 26-year-old with speed, range, and a bat that appears capable of hitting .300 each season.

In the most recent version of a deal that has been undergoing regular revision, the Sox, according to multiple major league sources, would be giving up third base prospect Andy Marte, setup man Guillermo Mota, and another player, presumably a prospect. The Indians would send Crisp to Boston along with two other players/prospects. As of last night, the deal appeared to have some parts moving into and out of the equation.

The Indians have indicated they'd prefer to hold on to Crisp, the player on their team who has commanded the most attention this offseason in the trade market. However, the Sox and Indians have kept open the lines of communication, thanks to a close working relationship between the teams, a relationship bolstered by the fact that Sox manager Terry Francona worked with Indians general manager Mark Shapiro in 2001, when Francona was a special assistant in Cleveland's baseball operations department.

If the Sox were to deal Marte, they would be giving up the chip that Tampa Bay continues to seek in return for shortstop Julio Lugo, though the Sox have balked at dealing Marte for Lugo straight up. And while it's possible the Sox could center a deal for Lugo around Bronson Arroyo, the club, which signed Arroyo to a three-year deal earlier this week, has told the 28-year-old righthander that it has no immediate plans to move him.

It's also possible the Sox could sign shortstop Alex Gonzalez, the former Marlin who is still without a team and is believed to be seeking a minimum of two seasons at about $5 million per year. Gonzalez's agent, Eric Goldschmidt, could not be reached last night.

Crisp, if obtained, would give the Sox a player who would be under their contractual control for the next four seasons. He made just $365,000 last season and is headed for a bump -- likely somewhere close to $3 million -- either in arbitration or in a negotiation to avoid arbitration.

Crisp, a switch hitter, has batted .299 with a .345 on-base percentage, .456 slugging percentage, 31 homers, and 140 RBIs over the last two seasons, the first two times in his career he's played more than 100 games. Damon, for comparison's sake, has batted .310 with a .373 OBP and .458 slugging percentage over the last two seasons with 30 homers and 169 RBIs. But, Crisp has just 80 walks over the last two seasons to Damon's 129.

Crisp hit predominantly second for the Indians last year but hit leadoff full time in 2003, when he played in 99 games, batting .266 with a .302 OBP.

Money-wise, he'd come far cheaper than Damon, probably would cover more outfield ground, and wouldn't be eligible for free agency until after the 2009 season.