Indians acquire veteran OF Coco Crisp in trade with A's

ByABC News
August 31, 2016, 11:50 AM

— -- CLEVELAND -- Coco Crisp is headed back to his first baseball home.

The switch-hitting outfielder is returning to the Cleveland Indians, who agreed Wednesday to a trade with the Oakland Athletics, the teams announced. By making it official Wednesday, the 36-year-old Crisp will be eligible for the postseason.

In return, the A's will receive 31-year-old left-hander Colt Hynes, who is 3-1 with a 3.99 ERA in 38 appearances for four minor league teams this season.

The Indians entered Wednesday leading the AL Central by 4? games.

Crisp spent his first four seasons in the majors with the Indians and became a fan favorite because of his catchy name, hustle and happy-go-lucky attitude. Cleveland traded him to Boston after the 2005 season.

With left fielder Michael Brantley done for the season after surgery and Abraham Almonte ineligible for the playoffs with a PED suspension, the Indians have been looking for outfield depth over the season's final month -- and perhaps into October.

Crisp is batting .234 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs in 102 games this season for the A's, who are in last place in the AL West.

Crisp, who played for Indians manager Terry Francona with the Red Sox, has plenty of playoff experience, having appeared in 31 postseason games and one World Series.

A .266 career hitter, Crisp has been with Oakland since 2010.

In addition to Hynes, whose contract was purchased by the Indians from the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 3, the A's also recalled Joey Wendle from Triple-A Nashville.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.