Buster Olney doesn't think so. A snippet:
But the Cardinals already have enormous contract obligations on the books. Albert Pujols will make $16 million in salary next year, and Chris Carpenter, the leading contender for the NL Cy Young Award, is set to make $14.5 million. Kyle Lohse will make $8.9 million, Yadier Molina will earn $4.25 million, and Adam Wainwright will make $4.6 million. Ryan Franklin and Trever Miller just signed contract extensions that will cost St. Louis about $5 million next year. That's $55 million for seven players, and if DeRosa gets an extension of something in the range of $5 million-$6 million and St. Louis elects to keep Ryan Ludwick through arbitration, that'll take the payroll to somewhere in the area of $70 million.
And if Holliday costs something around $12 million to $15 million next season, that would put the Cardinals in a position in which they'd have to approach or surpass $100 million in payroll to keep him.
Nothing in the Cardinals' recent history tells us they will do that. We'll see.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Matt Holliday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Holliday. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sweet Lord...no.
Matt Holliday on 1380 Radio in St. Louis:
"Hopefully this will be a long term relationship. I love it here [in STL]."
"Hopefully this will be a long term relationship. I love it here [in STL]."
Monday, August 3, 2009
Tejada questions Coop's strategy
I missed this over the weekend, but it seems that some players weren't so happy with Coop for walking what - for a time - was a .250-hitting Albert Pujols to face a .586-hitting Matt Holliday on Friday night.
Tejada:
"I think that now is not the time to walk anybody to pitch to (Holliday). I think Holliday is very hot. I think now the last thing you want to do when you're going against somebody who's hot is for you to walk somebody to pitch to that person. By being hot, his self esteem is higher than what he normally has. Why? Because you're going to walk somebody to face him. Since he's hot everything is going to go well, like (Friday) night. Did you see how he did (Friday) night? What we need to try to do is try to walk Holliday. I think in this game it doesn't matter how good you are, if they throw a pitch well I don't think you're going to hit a home run. Just because you're a strong hitter doesn't mean you're going to be in front of anybody. In this game the important thing is to try to throw the ball where it should be pitched and let fate do what it's going to do. If you have to walk Pujols, walk him. But I think right now we have to not just think of Pujols. We have to think of Holliday, too. I think we have to think that if we have to walk Pujols, we have to walk Holliday too."
Berkman:
"Pujols is such a dangerous hitter that you're always cautious of what he can do to you. There's certain situations that I think I would pitch to him because even as good as he is he's still making an out over half the time he's going out there. You never want to mess with him when he can really hurt you, but I think there are situations in the game where you take your chances. It's one thing if they didn't have anybody that was behind him that really scared you, but they have Holliday and they got Ludwick and DeRosa. They got guys back there that can really swing the bat well. Depending on the situation in the game you don't necessarily want to give (Holliday) any extra baserunners."
I see this going either way. Albert Pujols is the type of guy who ends a "slump" with one swing of the bat, and has routinely done exactly that against the Astros. If Pujols gets a big hit in an important spot against the Astros, we all lament, weep, and gnash our teeth. So I'm okay with walking Pujols at every opportunity, but it's hard to justify throwing anything worthwhile at a guy hitting .586 for the week.
Tejada:
"I think that now is not the time to walk anybody to pitch to (Holliday). I think Holliday is very hot. I think now the last thing you want to do when you're going against somebody who's hot is for you to walk somebody to pitch to that person. By being hot, his self esteem is higher than what he normally has. Why? Because you're going to walk somebody to face him. Since he's hot everything is going to go well, like (Friday) night. Did you see how he did (Friday) night? What we need to try to do is try to walk Holliday. I think in this game it doesn't matter how good you are, if they throw a pitch well I don't think you're going to hit a home run. Just because you're a strong hitter doesn't mean you're going to be in front of anybody. In this game the important thing is to try to throw the ball where it should be pitched and let fate do what it's going to do. If you have to walk Pujols, walk him. But I think right now we have to not just think of Pujols. We have to think of Holliday, too. I think we have to think that if we have to walk Pujols, we have to walk Holliday too."
Berkman:
"Pujols is such a dangerous hitter that you're always cautious of what he can do to you. There's certain situations that I think I would pitch to him because even as good as he is he's still making an out over half the time he's going out there. You never want to mess with him when he can really hurt you, but I think there are situations in the game where you take your chances. It's one thing if they didn't have anybody that was behind him that really scared you, but they have Holliday and they got Ludwick and DeRosa. They got guys back there that can really swing the bat well. Depending on the situation in the game you don't necessarily want to give (Holliday) any extra baserunners."
I see this going either way. Albert Pujols is the type of guy who ends a "slump" with one swing of the bat, and has routinely done exactly that against the Astros. If Pujols gets a big hit in an important spot against the Astros, we all lament, weep, and gnash our teeth. So I'm okay with walking Pujols at every opportunity, but it's hard to justify throwing anything worthwhile at a guy hitting .586 for the week.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Recap for G105 - Astros @ Cardinals
Okay, I think we all know who the Man of the Match is going to be. 2010 came early this week, and it looks like Bud "The Troof" Norris. Baseball history has been littered with great first games of careers that flamed out (I'm looking at you, David Clyde), but this just might be different. Bud Norris absolutely dominated a Cardinals team that pretty much dominated the Astros all weekend long, and got one back with a 2-0 win.
Matt Holliday came into this game hitting .606 and left hitting .375 as he was held hitless for the first time since coming to St. Louis ten days ago. I believe, and I also believe that you believe, I can handle losing this season if it means getting better in 2010+.
I'm excited, let's do the thing:
Norris: 7IP, 2H/0ER, 5K:4BB, 17/27 first-pitch strikes, 25/55 non contact strikes (16 called:9 swinging)
Wright: 0.1IP, 0H/0ER, 0/1 FPS, 1/2 NCS (1 called)
Sampson: 0IP, 1H/0ER, 1/1 FPS, 1/5 NCS (1 called)
Valverde: 1.2IP, 0H/0ER, 1K:1BB, 1/5 FPS, 6/16 NCS (2c:4s)
All four of Norris' Ks were swinging strikeouts, and Astros pitchers only allowed 4ABs with RISP, and didn't give up a hit, including 2 hitless ABs with RISP for Holliday and Pujols. The crucial inning was the bottom of the 6th. With Houston enjoying a 1-0 lead, Norris allowed a leadoff single - the first Cardinals hit of the game - to pitcher Adam Wainwright, and walked Colby Rasmus two batters later. With Rasmus on 1st, Wainwright on 2nd, 1 out and Pujols/Holliday up, Norris needed six pitches to get Pujols to pop up to third, and Holliday to strike out (looking, foul, swinging) to end the inning.
Offensively, we saw a different lineup, with Tejada being dropped to 5th in the lineup (2x3, 1RBI), and Pence moving up to 3rd (2x4). Blum was pushed to 6th and Pudge to 7th. Bourn's RBI double provided the two-run margin.
Man of the Match: Come on. Bud "The Troof" Norris. Here's to a long, healthy career.
Goat of the Game: Geoff Blum had the most opportunity to break the game open for the offense with 2ABs with RISP. He ended three innings, left five men on base including Pence on third twice.
Matt Holliday came into this game hitting .606 and left hitting .375 as he was held hitless for the first time since coming to St. Louis ten days ago. I believe, and I also believe that you believe, I can handle losing this season if it means getting better in 2010+.
I'm excited, let's do the thing:
Norris: 7IP, 2H/0ER, 5K:4BB, 17/27 first-pitch strikes, 25/55 non contact strikes (16 called:9 swinging)
Wright: 0.1IP, 0H/0ER, 0/1 FPS, 1/2 NCS (1 called)
Sampson: 0IP, 1H/0ER, 1/1 FPS, 1/5 NCS (1 called)
Valverde: 1.2IP, 0H/0ER, 1K:1BB, 1/5 FPS, 6/16 NCS (2c:4s)
All four of Norris' Ks were swinging strikeouts, and Astros pitchers only allowed 4ABs with RISP, and didn't give up a hit, including 2 hitless ABs with RISP for Holliday and Pujols. The crucial inning was the bottom of the 6th. With Houston enjoying a 1-0 lead, Norris allowed a leadoff single - the first Cardinals hit of the game - to pitcher Adam Wainwright, and walked Colby Rasmus two batters later. With Rasmus on 1st, Wainwright on 2nd, 1 out and Pujols/Holliday up, Norris needed six pitches to get Pujols to pop up to third, and Holliday to strike out (looking, foul, swinging) to end the inning.
Offensively, we saw a different lineup, with Tejada being dropped to 5th in the lineup (2x3, 1RBI), and Pence moving up to 3rd (2x4). Blum was pushed to 6th and Pudge to 7th. Bourn's RBI double provided the two-run margin.
Man of the Match: Come on. Bud "The Troof" Norris. Here's to a long, healthy career.
Goat of the Game: Geoff Blum had the most opportunity to break the game open for the offense with 2ABs with RISP. He ended three innings, left five men on base including Pence on third twice.
Recap for G104 - Astros @ Cardinals
Bad news. And it isn't totally related to the Astros 3-1 loss to the Cardinals at Beck's Stadium last night. Wandy left the game in the 5th inning with a strained right hamstring, meaning that through the last time in the rotation, Brian Moehler was the only one who could make it beyond the fifth innings. Bet you didn't have him in your pool. We'll have more on this later, but after the game Wandy said he didn't think he'd miss a start.
Still, the Astros were yet again dominated by the Cardinals pitching, and while the Astros held the Cardinals to three runs, Matt Holliday again went off, providing two homers in the game. Let's do the thing:
Wandy: 4IP, 3H/1ER, 4K:1BB, 9/16 first-pitch strikes, 18/36 non-contact strikes (14 called:4 swinging)
Fulchino: 3IP, 4H/0ER (1 run), 3K:0BB, 8/13 FPS, 19/34 NCS (8c:11s)
Valverde: 1IP, 2H/1ER, 1K, 1/5 FPS, 6/12 NCS (3c:3s)
Fulchino pitched very well in long relief, not allowing any earned runs, which brings us to the defense. Tejada made an error in the bottom of the 4th that led to the Cardinals having runners on 2nd/3rd with one out. Luckily there was no further damage as Wandy got out of the inning. In the 7th, Fulchino got Rasmus to groundout, allowed a double to Carpenter, and then Q was charged with a PB sending Carpenter to 3rd, and allowing Lugo (/chewing hair) to hit a sac fly with the go-ahead run. Lugo also was able to advance to third on DeRosa's single in the 5th on Hunter Pence's bobble. That put runners on the corners with two out and Pujols up. Nothing further came of it, and that was the inning. But the Astros are killing themselves with mental errors and mistakes. Oh, and Michael Bourn was caught stealing again, and then was ejected; Quintero was thrown out at home. So you know.
Offensively, this was all about Chris Carpenter. He held the Astros to eight hits in a 110-pitch complete game. There were only five at-bats all night long in which the Astros had RISP, and Wandy was the only one to come through with a hit - and that didn't even score a run. Carlos Lee's solo homer in the 4th was all there was going on. Quintero got three hits, then add a Tejada, Blum, and Wandy hit, and you've got yourself a game.
Man of the Match: Jeff Fulchino. 3IP of strong earned-runless relief and 4Ks, including one to Holliday - the only time Holliday didn't reach base all night.
Goat of the Game: Hunter Pence. An error led to a precarious situation, and he was 0x4 with 2Ks, one with Carlos Lee on third base, and ended the inning twice.
Still, the Astros were yet again dominated by the Cardinals pitching, and while the Astros held the Cardinals to three runs, Matt Holliday again went off, providing two homers in the game. Let's do the thing:
Wandy: 4IP, 3H/1ER, 4K:1BB, 9/16 first-pitch strikes, 18/36 non-contact strikes (14 called:4 swinging)
Fulchino: 3IP, 4H/0ER (1 run), 3K:0BB, 8/13 FPS, 19/34 NCS (8c:11s)
Valverde: 1IP, 2H/1ER, 1K, 1/5 FPS, 6/12 NCS (3c:3s)
Fulchino pitched very well in long relief, not allowing any earned runs, which brings us to the defense. Tejada made an error in the bottom of the 4th that led to the Cardinals having runners on 2nd/3rd with one out. Luckily there was no further damage as Wandy got out of the inning. In the 7th, Fulchino got Rasmus to groundout, allowed a double to Carpenter, and then Q was charged with a PB sending Carpenter to 3rd, and allowing Lugo (/chewing hair) to hit a sac fly with the go-ahead run. Lugo also was able to advance to third on DeRosa's single in the 5th on Hunter Pence's bobble. That put runners on the corners with two out and Pujols up. Nothing further came of it, and that was the inning. But the Astros are killing themselves with mental errors and mistakes. Oh, and Michael Bourn was caught stealing again, and then was ejected; Quintero was thrown out at home. So you know.
Offensively, this was all about Chris Carpenter. He held the Astros to eight hits in a 110-pitch complete game. There were only five at-bats all night long in which the Astros had RISP, and Wandy was the only one to come through with a hit - and that didn't even score a run. Carlos Lee's solo homer in the 4th was all there was going on. Quintero got three hits, then add a Tejada, Blum, and Wandy hit, and you've got yourself a game.
Man of the Match: Jeff Fulchino. 3IP of strong earned-runless relief and 4Ks, including one to Holliday - the only time Holliday didn't reach base all night.
Goat of the Game: Hunter Pence. An error led to a precarious situation, and he was 0x4 with 2Ks, one with Carlos Lee on third base, and ended the inning twice.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Recap for G103 - Astros @ Cardinals
And that's how you let the other team steal a win. And how you blow four games over .500, to fall one under. The Astros had the lead three times, and then let it get away with two runs in the bottom of the 8th. Matt Holliday was 4x4 and is now hitting .586 since coming over from Oakland, and Alberto Arias gets the loss. Wanna know who got the win in a 4-3 loss? You won't like it. Trever Miller. Uh-huh.
Let's do the thing:
Moehler: 6.2IP, 7H/2ER, 5K:1BB, 17/27 first-pitch strikes, 23/66 non-contact strikes (13 called:10 swinging). And welcome to the sub-5.00 ERA, Brian Moehler.
Wright: 0.1IP, 1H, 1/1 FPS, 0 NCS (1 pitch, 1 hit)
Arias: 1IP, 2H/2ER, 1K:1BB, 3/6 FPS, 3/10 NCS (1c:2s)
That blows. Moehler went toe-to-toe with Mitchell Boggs (did I really just write that?), and was not rewarded.
Offensively - jeez. 1-4 (Bourn, Matsui, Tejada, Lee) were a combined 7x18 with a walk, but the Astros didn't get anything after that, except a pinch-hit RBI from Matt Kata. 5-8 were 2x12 with four walks - three of them coming from Hunter Pence in a rare display of untapped patience. They were 2x9 with RISP, with a hits from Tejada and Kata. Boggs struggled with the pitch count, throwing 99 pitches to get 15 outs, walking five and giving up six hits. But could the Astros do anything with it? Nooooo...
Wife-slamming Julio Lugo scored the first run for the Cards, and didn't score another one until DeRosa hit another home run in the bottom of the 7th. Poor, dehydrated Wesley Wright gave up a first-pitch hit to Skip Schumaker, but Jason LaRue was thrown out at home for an inning-ending outfield assist. And the Astros took the lead on Kata's run-scoring single, scoring Pudge. Arias came in and hit Pujols, gave up a double to Holliday - who advanced to third on a wild pitch. He intentionally walked Ludwick, and then Ankiel scored Holliday for the final score of 4-3.
The Astros had a chance in the top of the 9th with Matsui singling to right. Then Tejada popped out to third and Lee grounded into an FC, getting Matsui at second. Blum grounded out to end the game. Pence was on base three times, and couldn't get home as the Astros left 11 on base to end innings.
Man of the Match: Should be Moehler, but I'm giving it to Matt Kata. 1st pitch, being aggressive, got an RBI single for a go-ahead run.
Goat of the Game: Alberto Arias. Bad time to have a bad game.
Let's do the thing:
Moehler: 6.2IP, 7H/2ER, 5K:1BB, 17/27 first-pitch strikes, 23/66 non-contact strikes (13 called:10 swinging). And welcome to the sub-5.00 ERA, Brian Moehler.
Wright: 0.1IP, 1H, 1/1 FPS, 0 NCS (1 pitch, 1 hit)
Arias: 1IP, 2H/2ER, 1K:1BB, 3/6 FPS, 3/10 NCS (1c:2s)
That blows. Moehler went toe-to-toe with Mitchell Boggs (did I really just write that?), and was not rewarded.
Offensively - jeez. 1-4 (Bourn, Matsui, Tejada, Lee) were a combined 7x18 with a walk, but the Astros didn't get anything after that, except a pinch-hit RBI from Matt Kata. 5-8 were 2x12 with four walks - three of them coming from Hunter Pence in a rare display of untapped patience. They were 2x9 with RISP, with a hits from Tejada and Kata. Boggs struggled with the pitch count, throwing 99 pitches to get 15 outs, walking five and giving up six hits. But could the Astros do anything with it? Nooooo...
Wife-slamming Julio Lugo scored the first run for the Cards, and didn't score another one until DeRosa hit another home run in the bottom of the 7th. Poor, dehydrated Wesley Wright gave up a first-pitch hit to Skip Schumaker, but Jason LaRue was thrown out at home for an inning-ending outfield assist. And the Astros took the lead on Kata's run-scoring single, scoring Pudge. Arias came in and hit Pujols, gave up a double to Holliday - who advanced to third on a wild pitch. He intentionally walked Ludwick, and then Ankiel scored Holliday for the final score of 4-3.
The Astros had a chance in the top of the 9th with Matsui singling to right. Then Tejada popped out to third and Lee grounded into an FC, getting Matsui at second. Blum grounded out to end the game. Pence was on base three times, and couldn't get home as the Astros left 11 on base to end innings.
Man of the Match: Should be Moehler, but I'm giving it to Matt Kata. 1st pitch, being aggressive, got an RBI single for a go-ahead run.
Goat of the Game: Alberto Arias. Bad time to have a bad game.
Friday, July 24, 2009
C70 at the Bat responds to the Holliday trade
So many of you have read the exchanges between Astros County and my favorite Cardinals' blog, C70 at the Bat. I asked Daniel from C70 what the heck happened. Think they're happy? Think again...
AC: What the heck just happened?
C70: Once I figure it out myself...Basically, from what I understand, the Cards traded their top prospect, Brett Wallace, plus two other prospects (including Clayton Mortensen, one of their top pitching prospects) for Matt Holliday.
The thought is that they can get him to St. Louis and do the McGwire/Rolen/Edmonds bit on him, have him fall in love with the city and want to give a reasonable deal on the extension.
Fanbase opinion? At least what I've seen so far, they are wondering if John Mozeliak has completely lost his mind. Wallace for Holliday was untenable enough--check out this post from yesterday at Future Redbirds-- but to add to the deal and still not get an extension signed ahead of time? Sure, they got back $1.5 million, but that's hardly anything.
Check out C70's full post here.
AC: What the heck just happened?
C70: Once I figure it out myself...Basically, from what I understand, the Cards traded their top prospect, Brett Wallace, plus two other prospects (including Clayton Mortensen, one of their top pitching prospects) for Matt Holliday.
The thought is that they can get him to St. Louis and do the McGwire/Rolen/Edmonds bit on him, have him fall in love with the city and want to give a reasonable deal on the extension.
Fanbase opinion? At least what I've seen so far, they are wondering if John Mozeliak has completely lost his mind. Wallace for Holliday was untenable enough--check out this post from yesterday at Future Redbirds-- but to add to the deal and still not get an extension signed ahead of time? Sure, they got back $1.5 million, but that's hardly anything.
Check out C70's full post here.
Matt Holliday vs Houston
Big story of the day is obviously how the Cardinals put it in Win Now mode and traded three prospects for rent-a-player Matt Holliday. What does this mean for the Astros, other than the fact that they'll have to run through Pujols-Ludwick-Holliday nine times (at least) next week?
Let's do the splits for Matt Holliday against the Astros:
29x81, .358/.409/.580 with 2HR, 7K:5BB
Let's do the splits for Matt Holliday against the Astros:
29x81, .358/.409/.580 with 2HR, 7K:5BB
FanGraphs on the Holliday trade
While a 3-4-5 of Pujols, Ludwick, Holliday might be enough to push the Cardinals back as the front-runners in the NL Central, in the long-term, it may not be such a great deal.
Holliday's agent is Scott Boras, and how often do Boras' rentals actually stick around for the long-term?
Going to Oakland is 3B Brett Wallace, who FanGraphs says...
...is not projected to be a big-time power threat, but rather a 15-20 homer guy who hits for a high average and takes his fair share of walks; somewhat of a Kevin Youkilis before he found his power stroke."
They break it down as such:
Mozeliak is also faced with the fact that after Brett Wallace, his farm system will be a lot thinner, no pun intended. Flags fly forever, and Wallace may never quite pan out and is probably not the greatest fit for his parent club.The Cardinals should be buyers at this point, but I wonder if they can’t get a better return than a rental for their top prospect.
Holliday's agent is Scott Boras, and how often do Boras' rentals actually stick around for the long-term?
Going to Oakland is 3B Brett Wallace, who FanGraphs says...
...is not projected to be a big-time power threat, but rather a 15-20 homer guy who hits for a high average and takes his fair share of walks; somewhat of a Kevin Youkilis before he found his power stroke."
They break it down as such:
Mozeliak is also faced with the fact that after Brett Wallace, his farm system will be a lot thinner, no pun intended. Flags fly forever, and Wallace may never quite pan out and is probably not the greatest fit for his parent club.The Cardinals should be buyers at this point, but I wonder if they can’t get a better return than a rental for their top prospect.
Cardinals to look a lot different next week
St. Louis is reportedly finalizing a trade for Oakland's Matt Holliday. Could be worse. Could be Roy Halladay.
UPDATE: And that's it. Top Cardinals prospect 3B Brett Wallace, OF Shane Peterson, and RHP Clayton Mortensen are now headed to the Bay Area.
UPDATE: And that's it. Top Cardinals prospect 3B Brett Wallace, OF Shane Peterson, and RHP Clayton Mortensen are now headed to the Bay Area.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Oh snap. He's back (guess who's back)
Little House of Pain for you on a Sunday morning. The wife is sick, so no church for us, which means I get to play with the new laptop, which means morning coverage of the Astros just got earlier. And I don't have to use my phone to update.
So sit back, relax, and get fired up, because the Astros are within two games of .500 for the first time since May 20 (when they were 18-20).
Bad news, though. The Cardinals acquired Mark DeRosa for reliever Chris Perez and a PTBNL. So they just got a lot better. And this comes on the heels of the announcement that they are working to acquire Matt Holliday.
So sit back, relax, and get fired up, because the Astros are within two games of .500 for the first time since May 20 (when they were 18-20).
Bad news, though. The Cardinals acquired Mark DeRosa for reliever Chris Perez and a PTBNL. So they just got a lot better. And this comes on the heels of the announcement that they are working to acquire Matt Holliday.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday Morning Update
Hey! Great news out of St. Louis for Astros fans this morning, as the Holliday-for-Anyone-But Pujols talks appear to be, in its present form, dead.
You would think that if St. Louis dealt for the (as of Opening Day 2009) 29-year old 6'4" 230 lb slugger, that would make Skip Schumaker expendable. It would be a definite upgrade at the position for the Cardinals, whose 174 home runs were 4th in the NL Central. Schumaker did play in 153 games in left field for the Cardinals, hitting .302 (.314 after the All-Star break) but only popping eight home runs and 46 RBI.
Holliday had 25 home runs in only 139 games for the Rockies in 2008 after missing some time with a strained left hamstring but his contract expires following 2009, signing a two-year $23 million contract last January.
On the roster now, the Rockies have three left-handed outfielders and the financial situation would make sense for the Rockies as well. Schumaker made $396,000 in 2008, while another name bandied about - Ryan Ludwick - made $411,000 in 2008. You can imagine Holliday would test the free-agent market, so the Rockies might as well see what they can get now.
Which, as Elias has determined, the Rockies would get some significant draft picks as compensation if they held on to Holliday and lost him in free agency...
With the Cardinals-Rockies in a stalemate, it looks as though the Phillies and Braves have the best chance as of now to land Holliday.
You would think that if St. Louis dealt for the (as of Opening Day 2009) 29-year old 6'4" 230 lb slugger, that would make Skip Schumaker expendable. It would be a definite upgrade at the position for the Cardinals, whose 174 home runs were 4th in the NL Central. Schumaker did play in 153 games in left field for the Cardinals, hitting .302 (.314 after the All-Star break) but only popping eight home runs and 46 RBI.
Holliday had 25 home runs in only 139 games for the Rockies in 2008 after missing some time with a strained left hamstring but his contract expires following 2009, signing a two-year $23 million contract last January.
On the roster now, the Rockies have three left-handed outfielders and the financial situation would make sense for the Rockies as well. Schumaker made $396,000 in 2008, while another name bandied about - Ryan Ludwick - made $411,000 in 2008. You can imagine Holliday would test the free-agent market, so the Rockies might as well see what they can get now.
Which, as Elias has determined, the Rockies would get some significant draft picks as compensation if they held on to Holliday and lost him in free agency...
With the Cardinals-Rockies in a stalemate, it looks as though the Phillies and Braves have the best chance as of now to land Holliday.
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