Coco Crisp's seven-year run with the A's came to an end Wednesday when Oakland traded the 36-year-old to the Indians.
Crisp played a pivotal role in the turnaround of the A's at the beginning of the decade.
On Wednesday afternoon, hours after the trade became official, Crisp tweeted a note thanking A's fans, the ownership group and the front office.
"Thank you...
To all the fans, I'm going to miss playing in front of you as an Athletic. You had my back the entire ride. I'll have a special place in my heart for all of you.
To the ownership and front office, thank you for the opportunity to play for such a prestigious franchise and a lot of things you've done for me, that meant so much. One example: Letting me use your PJ, allowing me to make it to the birth of my baby boy.
Oakland Athletics
Thank You Oakland!!!!"
Crisp's tenure in Oakland came with a bit of a sour ending. He went public with his views that the A's were purposely not playing him in order to prevent a $13 million option for 2017 from vesting.
Following news of the trade, A's GM David Forst addressed what Crisp meant to the A's.
"Coco was an important part to a lot of good teams here," Forst said on a media conference call Wednesday morning. "And frankly, he was here before we were good in 2012. You could say he was the beginning of us turning things around.
"We all have a lot of sentimental attachment to Coco and what he's meant. Obviously it's been documented that this season hadn't gone as he hoped. And the season hasn't gone how many of us would have hoped. Bottom line, this was a great opportunity for Coco to go play for a playoff contender."
Crisp is headed back to Cleveland where he made his major league debut in 2002.
