For better or worse (probably the latter) the Oakland A's are on the hook for Coco Crisp and his contract, meaning the oft-injured outfielder will likely be afforded every opportunity to play everyday in 2016, likely in left field. The Athletics brass likely won't find -- or pursue -- what they once had in Yoenis Cespedes. Instead, Billy Beane and David Forst need to focus on finding a serviceable backup in the inevitable event that Crisp once again joins the walking wounded next season.

Players such as Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry are full of intangibles capable of making them appealing to fans of hard-nosed baseball, but they fail to translate to the box score. A glaring need for the A's this hot stove season is finding an outfielder capable of playing routinely as a platoon opinion, or at a minimum, a player that can be relied upon when needed off the bench. Lets look at some free agent options here.

Gerardo Parra

Perhaps the most logical, yet most unlikely option to fill the A's outfield hole is Gerardo Parra. Parra can play either corner outfield position, and it a former Gold Glove winner. With the bat Parra is a career .277 hitter with a .404 slugging percentage, 56 home runs and 311 runs batted in. In 2015 Parra hit .291 with 55 extra base hits, including 14 round trippers and 51 RBIs while splitting time between Milwaukee and Baltimore.

Parra is a left handed bat the A's could easily platoon with the switch hitting Crisp, or spell the frequently injured outfielder. The problem with bringing Parra into the fold in Oakland could be an issue of supply and demand. At only 28 years of age Parra is likely to entertain more lucrative offers with the potential for more playing time than what Oakland can offer. With teams such as the Mets and Cubs reportedly interested in his services it's unlikely Parra will end up patrolling the outfield of O.Co, but making a run at a solid player who is still under 30 wouldn't be a bad play for the retooling A's.

Nori Aoki

A solid, veteran addition to the bench could come from just across the Bay. The Giants declined a $5.5 million option on Aoki, despite a solid season. Aoki is said to be fully recovered from the effects of a concussion that limited his playing time in 2015. Still, concern over his health could be the reason for the Giants declining an otherwise appealing contract option.

In Aoki the A's would get a solid defensive option behind Crisp, and a player capable of getting on base and generating offense with his legs. He is a versatile player, able to play all three outfield positions, and his ability as a contact hitter able to spray the ball around the field is often under valued. Last season Aoki hit .287 with five homers and 14 stolen bases in only 93 games due to the aforementioned concussion.

At 33 Aoki is still valuable enough to potentially garner a multi-year deal, but with the questions still revolving around his health he may be inclined to take a shorter, incentive-laden deal with a team like the A's

David Murphy

After closing out the season with the Los Angeles Anaheim Angels could veteran David Murphy move up the coast and fill a role in the A's outfield rotation? It's an option, albeit an uninspiring one. In Murphy the A's would get a substance over sizzle option in left field. He is a solid, but not spectacular option with the glove, capable of making errors about as frequently as he will make a "Top 10" quality grab.

With the bat he is a solid platoon option, a left handed hitter who fares much better against right handed pitching than left. He has some pop, hitting a career 104 home runs to go with 472 RBI's and a .274 batting average. In 2015 he had his best season since 2012, batting .283 with 10 home runs, and 50 runs batted in, while splitting time with the Cleveland Indians and Angels.

Like Aoki, Murphy is on the downside of his career, and at 34 may seek one final multi-year deal if he can get it. If the A's could bring in a solid contributor and veteran clubhouse guy like Murphy on a one or two year deal he may be just the tonic the depth challenged A's outfield needs to get well.

David DeJesus/Rajai Davis

If all else fails, one or both of these former A's could fill a role as a utility outfielder in 2016. Both are currently 35 and unlikely to have teams pounding down their doors with offers this winter. In DeJesus the A's would get a lefty batter that hit .233 with five home runs and 30 RBI's with the Tampa Bay Rays and Angels last season. In Davis the A's would add a right-handed bat to a currently switch and left-handed hitting heavy outfield, and bring in a pair of aging, but still speedy legs.

Both players can hold their own in the outfield, and can still make enough contributions with the bat to make a them worth a look this winter if other options vanish.

Time will tell where the A's go in their quest for another option in left field in what should be a busy offseason, but these are some potential options to which the A's brass could turn. Lets buckle up and enjoy what should be an eventful hot stove season!