Matt Holliday: Let's Review, Shall We?
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Matt Holliday: Let's Review, Shall We?
Todd Zolecki
Talk that the Phillies are aggressively pursuing Matt Holliday won't die, despite a few baseball sources indicating there is nothing there.
So let's review why it is unlikely the Phillies get Holliday:
- Colorado's asking price remains too high, and is unlikely to drop. One source said the Rockies would require Shane Victorino (or Jayson Werth), plus top prospect Carlos Carrasco and at least another top prospect from the Phillies' farm system (somebody like lefthander J.A. Happ). Why so high? Because the Rockies still feel like they can compete in the NL West, so they would need a major-league ready outfielder in return. They also would receive two top draft picks as compensation if they held onto Holliday and he left via free agency after the 2009 season. So in the minds of the Rockies, they would need at least two two prospects in a trade, which would correlate to those top two draft picks. Fox's Ken Rosenthal said the St. Louis Cardinals have a proposal on the table that includes Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker and righthander Mitchell Boggs. That's a serious offer, so the Phillies would have to put together something similarly intriguing.
- Holliday will be a free agent after the season. His agent is Scott Boras, and Boras always has his clients test the open market. So there would be no chance to extend Holliday before he became a free agent. Boras' clients also typically take the most money possible, which means there would no chance for a "hometown" discout. With the Phillies still hoping to sign players like Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard to extensions, there is little chance the Phillies could sign Holliday to a contract that would make Boras happy, and still extend homegrown players like Hamels, Howard, etc.
- The Phillies' priority remains pitching, and Carrasco certainly figures into those plans. The Phillies project him to be a No. 2 or 3 starter. If he pitches well enough, there is a chance he could make the team out of spring training. With Jamie Moyer still a free agent, Brett Myers in the final year of his contract, Kyle Kendrick a question mark and Adam Eaton a bust, it would be in the Phillies' best interest to hold onto somebody like Carrasco. They're going to need him.
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Ruben Amaro Jr. said rumors that the Phillies would listen to offers for shortstop Jimmy Rollins were "ludicrous." Rollins is one of the best leadoff hitters and shortstops in the game. His five-year, $40 million contract might be one of the best bargains in baseball. He will make just $8.5 million next season and $8.5 million in 2010. The Phillies also have an $8.5 million club option for 2011, which they almost certainly will pick up if he stays healthy. "Jimmy Rollins is our shortstop, for now and the future," Amaro said. "That rumor is unequivocally false."
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Here's today's story about Amaro's hirings and promotions in the front office.
Comments (11)
Comment removed.
Thank you, Ruben Amaro, for correctly labeling any talk of trading JRoll as "ludicrous!" Thanks, Todd, for putting this to rest as well as the Holliday rumors. I feel better now.— gbrettfan- There's no way this deal of the Cardinals' is legit......they'd be stupid to do it as stated......and I don't think they are....why would you give up arguably your 2nd and 3rd best people to get Holliday, especially when he's gonna be a FA after 1 season? Makes no sense, sounds like someone is floating rumors to get the Phils to panic and unload the farm. Don't buy it Rube!— Mark1npt
- I agree w/you, Mark, it's crazy! If I were another team, I'd let the Rockies keep Holliday for the one remaining year. Unless I had quality replacements for the guys I had to give up to get him.— gbrettfan
- The Cardinals would be morons to trade Ludwick for Holliday. Ludwick is an up and coming cheap player. Holliday has a year left on his contract.— doorspj24
- You gotta keep Victorino. He and Rollins are the heart and soul of this team. They are the spark plugs and the ones who keep them loose. You need them to offset the intensity of Utley and Howard. As much as I would love to have Holliday, you just can't give up Victorino.— Deb in Dixie
- While victorino is probably at his highest value coming off a career year and gold glove, I don't want to see him go because he's such a big fan favorite now. The only way I see them trading victorino is if they can work out a long term deal with holliday as part of the trade and there is no way that will happen (Boras). Also, I too think the Cards offer is bs and they are using that to leverage the Phils since no one else is legitimately biting on Holliday. Why would they give up Ludwick (under control for 3 years), Schumacker (under control for 4 years), and Boggs (6 years) for 1 year of Holliday who will test the market.— robm0202
- I am sorry, but that Ryan Ludwick thing makes no sense. Why would the Cardinals trade Ludwick, who is coming off a 30+ HR, 130+ RBI season, and is under team control for 3 more years, for Matt Holliday, who is under control for only one more year, and has not proven he can still be Matt Holliday outside of Coors Field, while Ludwick just had that great season playing home games in New Busch Stadium, which is hardly the hitter's park Coors is? ... Oh yeah, and the fact that Holliday just turned down a 5 yr, $85M extension is going to hurt his value to any club interested... the price will come down if teams are patient. If the Cards do something rash, the Phils should just back off and let them give up too much for too little.— RollinsWasRight
- As much as I think Matt Holliday would be a great addition to the Phils, he's not worth the price of losing Vic, Haap OR Carrasco. Especially for only one year.— Norma
- The only way the Phillies would trade for Holliday, is if they were in desperation mode. Which, by the way, they are not in, since the World F'n Champions don't have to be. Trading away hot commodities like Victorino and Carrasco would be pushing the Panic Button, which according to Fast Eddie when he was here, the Phils don't even have. There's no need for radical personnel moves after winning the World Series. Good non-move by Amaro. Side note: What are the odds Holliday signs here for 2010?— Sully
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> I can understand the financial/contractual aspect of not wanting to give up Ludwick for Holliday, but the "up and coming" part isn't entirely accurate. The guy is a year older than Holliday and only has one season of proven performance. — worldcupfever
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