HOUSTON -- A's left fielder Coco Crisp has been traded to the Indians, the team with which he began his Major League career in 2002.
The deal was announced on Wednesday, with Oakland receiving Minor League left-hander Colt Hynes in return. The A's also called up rookie infielder Joey Wendle from Triple-A Nashville to take Crisp's spot on the roster.
"Sad to see him go," Oakland right fielder Danny Valencia said. "It's obviously tough to see him go. You lose a good veteran guy, a good teammate. He was a guy that I was really close with and could bounce things off of him. I really enjoyed playing with him, enjoyed my time with him."
Crisp, who was the longest-tenured player on the A's roster, was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday for Oakland's 3-1 loss to Houston, and shortstop Marcus Semien took his place in the leadoff spot. A 15-year veteran, Crisp had been with the Athletics since 2010.
"This is the last guy [from] when I first got here, so he's no longer here, but he's had a big impact on the success that we've had here," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He's had a great career for us. He's been instrumental in three playoff runs. He's been as clutch a player as we've had in my tenure here, so from that respect, we certainly miss him, but we wish him the best."

Oakland general manager David Forst said the framework of the deal was solidified during Monday night's 6-0 loss to the Astros.
"You can say, in a way, that [Crisp] was kind of the beginning of us turning things around from 2007 to '11. We all have a lot of sentimental attachments to Coco and what he meant to the organization. Obviously, it's been documented that this season didn't go as he hoped ... and this is a great opportunity for Coco to go play for a playoff contender and hopefully get back to the postseason."
Valencia said the players "kind of knew about [the trade]," and that Crisp got a chance to say goodbye before he left.
"He's probably moving on to a better situation for him," Valencia said. "If this is the end of his career -- which I don't think it is, but maybe if it is -- to be able to play in the playoffs will be something special for him, and to go back to where it started is pretty cool."
Semien said he gets along with almost everybody, but he got along especially well with Crisp.
"He's different," Semien said. "He doesn't believe in scouting reports and all this. He's old school. He just plays the game, uses his athletic ability, and I wish him the best of luck."

A career .266 hitter, Crisp was batting .234 with 92 hits, 24 doubles, 11 home runs and 47 RBIs in 102 games for Oakland this season.
Trades are part of the business of baseball, especially for a struggling team like the A's. Valencia and Semien said they recognize that, despite their personal feelings toward Crisp.
"We put ourselves in this position where you see your team kind of get dismantled a little bit," Valencia said. "Obviously, Oakland is notorious for making moves, which is a good thing and sometimes can be a sad thing like today. It's part of the game. It's part of the business, and you just hope for nothing but the best to those guys."
"It happens a lot here," Semien said. "My two years here, I've seen that. We've got a young group of guys here that we want to do well, and that's all we can do while we're here playing for Oakland is give it our best every day."
Hynes, 31, began the season in the Toronto organization, and he was traded to Cleveland on Aug. 3. He combined for a 3-1 record, two saves and a 3.99 ERA in 38 relief appearances with Double-A New Hampshire, Triple-A Buffalo, Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron. Hynes struck out 52 and walked just nine in 47 1/3 innings.
Hynes made his Major League debut with San Diego in 2013, and he also pitched for Toronto in '15. He has no decisions and an 8.55 ERA in 27 career big league appearances, all in relief.
"Little bit of a journeyman," Forst said of Hynes. "He's obviously been in the Minor Leagues for a long time, but can help them from the left side. As we've seen with Chris Smith and Ross Detwiler and other guys, you never know when guys may end up here."