Oakland is thirteen games under .500. The A's have already made a move for Scott Hairston. Holliday is on the move. The question is, can Billy Beane convince a somewhat skeptical set of GMs that Holliday is still one of the best bats in the game. Good luck to Beane.
Everyone knew Beane was gambling when he made the move for Holliday this offseason (A's Land Holliday). If his numbers were solid outside of Coors Field, Beane would be able to either move him at the deadline in a blockbuster, or, if his bat put the A's in contention, hold him for the season and then get the picks for him when he signed a megadeal elsewhere. The problem for Beane has been Holliday's numbers are not the same as they were at Coors Field, and his value is way below that which he traded to get him in the first place. So now what?
Matt Holliday is still a good bat. Even with a down year, he has an above-average OPS and can still put a hurt on a ball. Plus, his OPS is a good fifty points higher in the second half than in the first over his career. So he'll make a team better down the stretch. The problem is, will a team be willing to make a similar gamble on him that Billy Beane made?
The Cardinals have been talked about as suitors for awhile now. He would do well to protect Albert Pujols. But if Ryan Ludwick comes back into form, the Cards may just wait to sign him this offseason. Holliday would also fit with the Cubs (who still lack a righthanded bat that scares anyone), the White Sox, the Twins, or in a long shot the Angels (who just need someone to stay on the field). The Giants could be a possibility if they felt they needed to win now, but they have good days ahead of them they do not want to throw away for a one-year rental like Holliday. Neither the Braves nor the Marlins look to be adding players now, and I don't think the Brewers or the Mets are interested in making this sort of huge move, though the Mets might if injuries persist and the division seems within reach. That leaves a small, but somewhat intriguing pool of interested teams.
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