Red Sox hot to add Coco to the mix

Cleveland Indians left fielder Coco Crisp may be headed to center field for the Boston Red Sox if a deal goes through between the two clubs, according to a published report yesterday.

The 26-year-old Crisp, a .300 hitter with 35 homers and 54 steals in a little more than two full seasons of major league play, would fill the vacancy left by Johnny Damon. His projected salary of about $20 million over the next four seasons is $32 million less than what Damon received from the New York Yankees.

In return for Crisp, the Indians have reportedly asked for reliever Guillermo Mota and infield prospect Andy Marte, according to the Boston Herald’s Tony Massarotti. The Indians have also been seeking a replacement outfielder from another team, reportedly Philadelphia’s Jason Michaels, before the deal with the Red Sox is finalized.

Mota was obtained from Florida in November along with pitcher Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell in exchange for four minor leaguers. He was projected as a middle reliever but could now be expendable with the acquisition of Julian Tavarez from St. Louis on a two-year deal.

Marte was acquired from Atlanta in exchange for shortstop Edgar Renteria. Marte, 22, is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He has averaged .280, 32 doubles and 20 homers in his first four seasons in the minor leagues. He hit .140 in 57 at-bats in a September call-up in 2005.

Boston and Cleveland have put a major amount of work into trying to make this deal work over the last month according to the Boston Globe yesterday. Both teams are trying to make this deal happen in the near future as pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than four weeks.