MLB: Oakland's Crisp arrested on DUI charge

PHOENIX (AP) - Major league security officials met with the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday and delivered their annual spring lecture to the players on the pitfalls of their profession. One of the subjects discussed was the danger of drinking and driving.

Coco Crisp attended the meeting. Hours earlier he was in jail.

Crisp was arrested early Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., on suspicion of drunk driving, the third major league player to be charged with DUI during spring training.

The A's released a statement on the matter.

"Coco Crisp was arrested and detained early this morning under the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol," the club said. "He was released from the City of Scottsdale Jail this morning and arrived at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on time for team pre-game drills.

"The A's are aware of the situation and take such matters seriously. The team and Coco will have no further comment until further details are available."

Scottsdale police didn't immediately respond to calls Wednesday requesting information on the arrest.

Crisp was on the field for the morning workout, and he was in the clubhouse before the A's hosted the Cleveland Indians in an exhibition. Crisp did not speak with reporters before leaving Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Following the game, manager Bob Geren offered little information on Crisp's situation.

"I talked to Coco," he said. "The club put out a statement which speaks for all of us at this point."

Geren said Crisp will play on Thursday when the A's play a road game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The team has not indicated if Crisp faces any team discipline.

The 31-year-old Crisp is the latest major leaguer to face a DUI charge since training camps opened.

Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera was arrested in Florida on Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence. He is to be arraigned on March 16.

On Tuesday, the Indians learned that outfielder Austin Kearns was arrested on Feb. 12 in Kentucky. He chose not to tell that team on advice of his attorneys, and the team was put in the awkward position of addressing his situation without knowing many facts.

Crisp is coming off an injury-riddled 2010, when he played in just 75 games. He was on the disabled list in April with a broken pinkie finger and went on the DL again in May with a strained rib muscle. Crisp broke the pinkie a second time on Sept. 18 and missed the remainder of the season.

He batted .279 with eight homers, 38 RBIs and had 32 steals.

In November, the A's exercised their $5.75 million option on Crisp for 2011. He's eligible for free agency after this season.