Oakland Athletics Bring Back Coco Crisp, Brett Anderson

Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Coco Crisp hits a RBI single against the Detroit Tigers in the seventh inning in game four of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Athletics announced Friday they have exercised their 2014 options on center fielder Coco Crisp and left-hander Brett Anderson.

Per MLBTradeRumors.com , the A’s will buy out the contracts of outfielder Chris Young and catcher Kurt Suzuki.

Crisp is coming back on a $7.5 million deal for next season after he became the first Oakland player since Ruben Sierra in 1993 to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in the same season.

For his part, Crisp would like to remain in Oakland long-term, saying after the A’s were eliminated from the American League Division Series by the Detroit Tigers that he wants a long-term deal (h/t CSNBayArea.com).

"“I’ve always stated my comfort here,” Crisp said after the ALDS. “It’d be nice if they enhanced the years … and kept me here for awhile. The ball’s in their court. I enjoy playing here.”"

Closer Grant Balfour and starter Bartolo Colon filed for free agency on Thursday and the organization has to decide by 2 p.m. Monday whether or not to extend the one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer to either or both.

The qualifying offer guarantees draft pick and draft slot money compensation should the player subsequently sign elsewhere. But the qualifying offer carries with it the risk of a player accepting the one-year deal for more cash than the team is really interested in ponying up.

Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Brett Anderson throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the 8th inning in game four of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Anderson had an $8 million option for next year. He was 1-4 with a 6.04 ERA and 1.612 WHIP in 44.2 innings in an injury-plagued year. The 25-year-old made 16 appearances, five of them starts, and also earned three saves.

Young’s $11 million option will be bought out instead for $1.5 million and he becomes a free agent. Suzuki’s contract would have paid him $8.5 million in 2014; he will instead get a buyout of $650,000.

Young came over in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks last winter and hit just .200/.280/.379 with 12 homers and 40 RBI in 375 plate appearances.

Suzuki was re-acquired from the Washington Nationals on Aug. 23, but appeared in just 15 games with the A’s. He was 10-for-33 with two homers and seven RBI, but Oakland is already stocked at catcher with young Derek Norris and late-season hero Stephen Vogt, while utility man John Jaso is also primarily a catcher and is still under club control, though eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter.