30 A's in 30 Days – Coco Crisp

Acquired: Signed as free agent (December 23, 2009).
Contract: One year thru 2010 with 2011 club option.
Position: Starting CF, LF, DL

Projected BA/OBP/SLG: (.254/.330/.370)

Over/Under: In 2006, the A's signed DH Frank Thomas right before the start of Spring Training. The Big Hurt was coming off two straight injury-plagued seasons, but had an established offensive track record. Thomas signed for $500,000 and incentives. Crisp, himself, is trying to come back from labrum surgery on BOTH shoulders that limited him to just 215 plate appearances last year. Take the UNDER on his projection.

Crisp has had two – TWO – above-average seasons at the plate in an eight-year career. The A's and the Padres were the only two teams seriously interested in Crisp – entirely for his defense – with Oakland grossly overpaying for damaged, declining goods. Hard to believe this was only the A's second worst free agent find of the offseason.

By the Numbers: 28 – Crisp's single-season career-high in stolen bases, reached in 2007 with the Red Sox. For a player who's trumpeted as a throwback to the speedy, Astroturf burners of the 1970s and '80s, Crisp doesn't burn much. And, his lifetime 74% SB success percentage just barely acceptable.

Surefire 2010 Prediction: A's manager Bob Geren has already announced that Crisp will DH early in Spring Training to "reduce wear and tear" on his surgically repaired shoulders. This doesn't alarm…anyone? Look for Crisp to swap OF spots with LF Rajai Davis at some point during the regular season with words like "reduce", "wear" and "tear" in Geren's explanation, followed by a lengthy DL visit when the team realizes a no-armed outfielder is useless.

Tupac Track for the Season: Pain