THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / KRIS CRAIG

Rewind two years, to the offseason of 2005-06.

The Red Sox needed a center fielder after Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees as a free agent. The Red Sox brass decided Coco Crisp would be the perfect replacement.

Crisp was 26 years old, coming off back-to-back seasons with the Indians in which he’d hit .297 and .300, and had, assistant general manager Jed Hoyer said at the time, “a certain energy and swagger we think will translate very well to Fenway.”

When he arrived at spring training that year, after having been acquired in a six-player trade that sent highly rated prospect Andy Marte to Cleveland, there was great anticipation due to his three-dimensional abilities of explosive offense, incredible defensive skills, and lightning speed.

Fast forward to the present.

Crisp’s days in Boston appear to be numbered. Not only didn’t he improve on his Cleveland numbers during his two years with the Sox, he regressed. His batting average dropped by about 35 points, his power numbers by half. While he played superlative defense — especially this year — he wasn’t nearly the player the Sox thought, and hoped, they were getting. With Jacoby Ellsbury on the scene, Crisp is certain to be somewhere else next season … either in Minnesota, as part of a potential Johan Santana trade, or elsewhere.

What happened? Why was the player they got a shadow of the player they thought they were getting?

Take the “energy and swagger.” Perhaps he was that way in Cleveland, but in Boston Crisp had a Jekyll-and-Hyde clubhouse persona. One day he’d be laughing and joking with his teammates and the media; other days he kept to himself in a sort of ornery manner.

Then there was his health. He suffered a broken finger early in the 2006 season and wound up playing only 105 games. While he was able to play 145 games in 2007, there were many instances when he was described as being sick or tired, which also seemed to affect his play.

And there’s no question he wasn’t the hitter they’d expected. Bothered by the finger even after he returned, he batted only .264 in 2006. This past season there wasn’t much of an improvement. Even though he showed glimpses of his true abilities, he still hit only .268 in 145 games.

“He hasn’t replicated the same offensive numbers he put up in 2004 and 2005 in the last two years,” said general manager Theo Epstein. “If and when he does get back to that level of performance offensively, and combine that with his defense and base running, you have one of the better center fielders in the league. He’s certainly an asset for us and he brings a lot to the table.

“He’s in his peak age and he’s a player we’re still excited about having,” added Epstein. “There’s room for improvement. To be honest, he hasn’t performed offensively the last couple of years the way he did earlier in his career and none of us would be surprised to see him get back to the level offensively again, which, combined with his defense, would make him pretty special.”

Ironically — or not — Crisp’s best stretch of the 2007 season came after Ellsbury was recalled from Pawtucket. Crisp missed several games because of a bruised thumb and Ellsbury electrified the region with his speed and on-base ability during the handful of games he played. When Crisp got back into the lineup he had his best month offensively, compiling a .323 average with one homer and 20 RBI in July.

To Crisp’s credit he was outstanding in the outfield in 2007 as he continually made highlight-reel catches.

“Without him,” said Ben Cherington, the Sox’ vice president of player personnel, “we don’t get to the playoffs.”

“Coco made an incredible breakthrough last year with his defense,” said Epstein. “He was one of the two or three best defensive outfielders in all of baseball last year. He wasn’t rewarded with a Gold Glove, but he should have been.”

When it counted the most, however, Crisp couldn’t deliver offensively. He batted only .161 in the ALDS and the first five games of the ALCS, and Sox manager Terry Francona inserted Ellsbury into the lineup for Game Six of the ALCS. The rookie provided a much-needed spark and never let up for the remainder of the postseason en route to a World Championship. Crisp watched from the dugout and was only used as a late-inning defensive replacement.

“I’m sure it was a tough decision for Tito,” said Cherington, “but overall he’s trying to do what’s best for the team.”

Now the question is: Is giving Crisp’s job to Ellsbury what’s best for the team? Based on the reports swirling that the Sox are willing to move him, the answer appears to be yes.

If, for some reason, he stays in Boston, Epstein said it will be a good competition between Crisp and Ellsbury in spring training to win the everyday job in center.

“We’re very lucky to have two very good center fielders on the roster,” said Epstein. “They are not mutually exclusive, and I think there can be a role for both guys on the club.”

Maybe not for long.

jmcdonal@projo.com