Coco Crisp will play left field for the A's. Oakland GM Billy Beane announced Monday in camp that 26-year-old Cuban Yoenis Cespedes will be the starting center fielder for the team's season-opening series in Japan (and, if all goes well, for the rest of the year). Crisp is said to be fine with the decision and remains a valuable steals guy in fantasy leagues.

Coco Crisp told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he would prefer to play center field. Many have speculated that that the newly-signed Yoenis Cespedes will play center field, but Crisp still thinks he's the best option. "I'm going to make all the plays," said Crisp. "If someone feels there's someone better than me, it's hard for me to believe. Unless he's a demigod come down from the heavens, no one is going to outshine me in center field." Crisp passed on an offer from the Rays in order to return as the A's center fielder, so it will be interesting to see if he embraces a potential move to left field. He could become trade bait if he manages to stay healthy.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the addition of Yoenis Cespedes will likely push Coco Crisp to left field. Some suggested that Cespedes could potentially begin the season in the minor leagues, but the A's have every intention of putting him in the starting lineup right away. This makes things a little awkward with Crisp, who was re-signed last month to a two-year, $14 million contract with a club option for 2014. A lot of his value is tied up in his defense, so sticking him in a corner outfielder spot is far from ideal. Assuming Cespedes plays center and Crisp moves over to left, Josh Reddick will presumably play right field while Seth Smith projects to get more at-bats out of the DH spot.

During an interview with Bloomberg Television on Tuesday, Athletics owner Lew Wolff said that general manager Billy Beane and team president Michael Crowley will have their contracts extended through the 2019 season. The extensions are expected to be made official within the next 30 days. "I view them as partners as well as executives," said Wolff. "So if they are here another 30 years, that is fine with me. I may not be here to see it, but that will be fine." Beane, who was already signed through 2014, has been the team's GM the end of the 1997 season while Crowley took over as president following the 1998 campaign. However, the A's haven't had a winning season since 2006 and appear content to go through a rough rebuilding phase as they attempt to get a new ballpark.

Athletics signed OF Coco Crisp to a two-year, $14 million contract with a club option for 2014. The deal was agreed to on Tuesday, then finalized Thursday evening. Crisp, 32, batted just .264/.314/.379 with eight home runs in 136 games last season, but led the American League in stolen bases with 49. He is likely to open the 2012 season as Oakland's starting center fielder.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, Coco Crisp will return to the Athletics on a two-year, $14 contract with a club option for 2014. He'll make $6 million next season and $7 million in 2013 while the contract includes a $7.5 million club option for 2014 or a $1 million buyout. It's surprising to see him return to Oakland, especially when Billy Beane said he wouldn't give out any multi-year contracts this winter, but Crisp at least adds a stable veteran presence to an outfield which includes 26-year-old Michael Taylor, 25-year-old Collin Cowgill and 24-year-old Josh Reddick. The 32-year-old batted .264/.314/.379 with eight homers and 49 steals in 136 games last year.

Coco Crisp's agent Steve Comte told Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group that an announcement regarding where the veteran center fielder signed will be made either Tuesday or Wednesday. Comte wants to leave it to the unidentified team to make the announcement. He ruled out the Cubs as a possibility, so Stiglich gets the impression that Crisp may very well return to Oakland. The 32-year-old batted .264/.314/.379 with eight homers, 54 RBI, 49 stolen bases and a .693 OPS this past season with the A's.

According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, free agent outfielder Coco Crisp is close to re-signing with Oakland. The move doesn't make a ton of sense for the rebuilding A's, but perhaps GM Billy Beane wanted to keep some amount of veteran leadership around on a roster that currently projects to be one of the youngest in the league. Crisp can function as depth in an outfield that consists of 26-year-old Michael Taylor, 25-year-old Collin Cowgill and 24-year-old Josh Reddick. He batted .264/.314/.379 with eight homers and 49 stolen bases in 136 games last year.

The Orioles have not signed Coco Crisp. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman speculated on Monday night that the O's were set to acquire the 32-year-old outfielder, but it's not happening. Crisp has reportedly already decided where he is going to play in 2012 and is expected to make it public soon. He batted .264/.314/.379 with eight homers, 54 RBI and 49 stolen bases last year for Oakland.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com speculates that Coco Crisp could sign with the Orioles. While this is more of a guess on his part, he hears that the two sides have spoken within the past few days. Crisp's agent told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday that his client has already made up his mind on where he'll sign and just needs to inform the unidentified team of his decision. The A's are interested in re-signing the 32-year-old center fielder, but he has also drawn interest from the Cubs and Dodgers in recent weeks.