WILL COCO BE HERE IN 08?

Lost in the discussion about whether or not Mike Lowell will return to the Red Sox is a decision Theo Epstein needs to make on centerfielder Coco Crisp. With Jacoby Ellsbury apparently ready to take over full time after a stellar performance at the end of the regular season, as well as in the post-season, Crisp looks to be an expendable part that could be used in a trade to strengthen the Red Sox for 2008.

There is no denying that Crisp has been a huge disappointment at the plate since being obtained from Cleveland prior to the 2006 season. In his final two seasons with the Indians Crisp batted .298 with 31 homers and 140 RBI. At 26 years of age he had the look of a player about to become a solid performer at the plate. However, in two years with the Red Sox Crisp has hit .266 with 14 homers and 96 runs batted in. Those numbers fell well short of expectations. In the field, Crisp has been above average. For two seasons he has played Gold Glove caliber defense in centerfield and has made a habit of treating fans to spectacular catches with the game on the line.

Red Sox Nation is well aware of Ellsbury’s great potential and witnessed the rookie’s stellar performance late in the post-season. Many expect the rookie to pick right up where he left off in 2007. However, combined with Crisp this duo gives the Red Sox depth in the outfield. Depth that Epstein has already said he would be reluctant to trade away. So the question becomes: What type of return would the Red Sox need in return if they trade Crisp away?

With Lowell still holding out for a four-year deal, Crisp could be part of a package that brings back a replacement at third base or a first baseman if Lowell leaves Boston. He could be dealt to try and strengthen the Red Sox bullpen. Or he could be part of a rather big package, along with prospects to land another top arm for the starting rotation. Oakland or Minnesota tops the list of that possibility.

Those scenarios paint a picture of need for the Red Sox. And surrendering Crisp for a need makes perfect sense. However, the Red Sox do have reason for pause in any case. Crisp provides and in-house veteran option to replace Manny Ramirez or J. D. Drew if an injury occurs to either player. Crisp would take over in centerfield with Ellsbury switching to the vacant corner position. That plan of attack worked out well for the Red Sox when Ramirez went down with an injury in late August. Ramirez did not return until late September, yet the Red Sox played well enough to keep the Yankees at bay and captured their first division title since 1995. Ellsbury and Crisp were in the lineup for the majority of that stretch of play.

So, on the surface it looks as if Crisp is going to be displaced by Ellsbury in the starting lineup. But trading Crisp away isn’t a mortal lock. It’s a position of strength and depth for the Red Sox. And that makes Crisp a player Boston can’t be in a hurry to trade away.

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