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Cardinals acquire help in Holliday
Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The busy St. Louis Cardinals have added a big bat for their pennant drive.
They acquired three-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday from the Oakland Athletics on Friday for a package of prospects.
Holliday was in the Cardinals' lineup in left field and batting cleanup behind slugger Albert Pujols for Friday night's game against the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.
If We Took A Holliday...
The trade sending Athletics outfielder Matt Holliday to the Cardinals looks like a win for both teams, writes Keith Law. Blog
• Does trade boost Holliday's value? Fantasy Spin
"You look at the lineup card and it's exciting," St. Louis outfielder Ryan Ludwick said. "You take a hitter like him and it's instant offense. A player of that caliber, it adds a lot of excitement. We're in first. This will push us to get a lot more."
The A's receive power-hitting third baseman Brett Wallace, a top offensive player in the St. Louis farm system. Outfielder Shane Peterson and right-hander Clayton Mortensen also will go to the Oakland organization.
The first-place Cardinals have been looking to add another hitter in the middle of the lineup to support Pujols. St. Louis already acquired utilityman Mark DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians late last month and then shortstop Julio Lugo in a Wednesday swap with the Boston Red Sox.
"Matt is an impact player who gives us an instant added threat in the middle of our lineup," Cardinals' vice president and general manager John Mozeliak said. "These types of opportunities are rare. The price to complete this deal was steep, but our organization feels that it should greatly improve our chances to compete for a postseason berth."
Moving Day
Matt Holliday may welcome another change of scenery. His numbers have taken a hit in 2009, especially when hitting the ball in the air. Could the difference be in his home park? He moved from one of the friendliest hitting parks in the majors to one of the least -- from Colorado to Oakland this offseason.
Flyballs at Home 2008 2009
BA .492 .357
Slugging pct. 1.008 .750
Flyball/HR 8.6 12.1
Holliday has struggled in his first season with the A's, batting .286 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs.
Oakland traded for Holliday during the winter knowing he might only be with the club for half a season. A's general manager Billy Beane acknowledged as much at the time.
"Even when we traded for Matt, we knew there were going to be a lot of options," Beane said Friday. "We're happy we traded for Matt. We had to be prepared for anything."
The 29-year-old Holliday had his best game for Oakland at home on Monday, hitting two home runs with a grand slam as the A's rallied from 10 runs down to beat the Minnesota Twins 14-13.
Many scouts attended recent games in Oakland to watch Holliday, who spent his first five major league seasons with the Rockies.
"I wouldn't say it's surprising," said Oakland's Mark Ellis, who learned about the trade when Holliday stopped by his hotel room Friday morning. "It's disappointing. Maybe if we would have played better we would have hung onto him."
The teams began discussions about a month ago, then things picked back up earlier this week. Most of the work was finished Thursday night, Beane said, with final details completed Friday.
"It became pretty apparent to us that St. Louis was interested in Matt," Beane said. "They had called over a month ago. They were definitely the most motivated."
Wallace could provide the A's some depth at third base in the absence of six-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez, who is recovering from season-ending back surgery. It was the second back surgery for Chavez -- he had the same microdiscectomy procedure in a different spot -- and his fifth operation overall since Sept. 5, 2007. He also had three shoulder operations.
MLB Rumor Central
ESPN Insider has the updated buzz from the Major League Baseball rumor mill.
Story Insider
The A's are optimistic Chavez will be ready by spring training 2010.
"We're all hopeful Eric's our third baseman next year," Beane said. "Obviously long term it's probably one area in the organization we have a need. We're going to keep [Wallace] over there, be patient with him and see how it goes."
Wallace, whom Oakland has liked since he was a freshman at Arizona State -- moved quickly through the Cardinals' farm system and was considered their top offensive prospect. The 13th overall draft pick last year, he was already at Triple-A Memphis. Whenever St. Louis needed help from the minors, Wallace's name came up, but manager Tony La Russa insisted he needed more time.
"I know this guy signed a year ago and has had success at every level he's played at. You look at that," A's manager Bob Geren said. "Around here, we don't put caps on anyone. When they're ready we move them up."
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Wallace, a left-handed hitter born in the Bay Area, was batting .293 with six homers, 19 RBIs and 11 doubles in 62 games for Memphis after starting the year in Double-A.
He played in the All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis earlier this month.
The Cardinals have been without third baseman Troy Glaus, who is rehabilitating from January shoulder surgery.
The A's recalled infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Holliday's spot on the 25-man roster and he was expected to join the team for Friday night's game against New York at Yankee Stadium.
"We got three players that we've always kind of liked," Geren said. "Happy about the trade, happy for Matt, too. Matt's going to go over to St. Louis and be right in the middle of a pennant race. It's a good deal for everybody."
Cards are going to be sick Luwick, Pujols, Holliday, and Schumaker !!!
Cardinals acquire help in Holliday
Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The busy St. Louis Cardinals have added a big bat for their pennant drive.
They acquired three-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday from the Oakland Athletics on Friday for a package of prospects.
Holliday was in the Cardinals' lineup in left field and batting cleanup behind slugger Albert Pujols for Friday night's game against the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.
If We Took A Holliday...
The trade sending Athletics outfielder Matt Holliday to the Cardinals looks like a win for both teams, writes Keith Law. Blog
• Does trade boost Holliday's value? Fantasy Spin
"You look at the lineup card and it's exciting," St. Louis outfielder Ryan Ludwick said. "You take a hitter like him and it's instant offense. A player of that caliber, it adds a lot of excitement. We're in first. This will push us to get a lot more."
The A's receive power-hitting third baseman Brett Wallace, a top offensive player in the St. Louis farm system. Outfielder Shane Peterson and right-hander Clayton Mortensen also will go to the Oakland organization.
The first-place Cardinals have been looking to add another hitter in the middle of the lineup to support Pujols. St. Louis already acquired utilityman Mark DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians late last month and then shortstop Julio Lugo in a Wednesday swap with the Boston Red Sox.
"Matt is an impact player who gives us an instant added threat in the middle of our lineup," Cardinals' vice president and general manager John Mozeliak said. "These types of opportunities are rare. The price to complete this deal was steep, but our organization feels that it should greatly improve our chances to compete for a postseason berth."
Moving Day
Matt Holliday may welcome another change of scenery. His numbers have taken a hit in 2009, especially when hitting the ball in the air. Could the difference be in his home park? He moved from one of the friendliest hitting parks in the majors to one of the least -- from Colorado to Oakland this offseason.
Flyballs at Home 2008 2009
BA .492 .357
Slugging pct. 1.008 .750
Flyball/HR 8.6 12.1
Holliday has struggled in his first season with the A's, batting .286 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs.
Oakland traded for Holliday during the winter knowing he might only be with the club for half a season. A's general manager Billy Beane acknowledged as much at the time.
"Even when we traded for Matt, we knew there were going to be a lot of options," Beane said Friday. "We're happy we traded for Matt. We had to be prepared for anything."
The 29-year-old Holliday had his best game for Oakland at home on Monday, hitting two home runs with a grand slam as the A's rallied from 10 runs down to beat the Minnesota Twins 14-13.
Many scouts attended recent games in Oakland to watch Holliday, who spent his first five major league seasons with the Rockies.
"I wouldn't say it's surprising," said Oakland's Mark Ellis, who learned about the trade when Holliday stopped by his hotel room Friday morning. "It's disappointing. Maybe if we would have played better we would have hung onto him."
The teams began discussions about a month ago, then things picked back up earlier this week. Most of the work was finished Thursday night, Beane said, with final details completed Friday.
"It became pretty apparent to us that St. Louis was interested in Matt," Beane said. "They had called over a month ago. They were definitely the most motivated."
Wallace could provide the A's some depth at third base in the absence of six-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez, who is recovering from season-ending back surgery. It was the second back surgery for Chavez -- he had the same microdiscectomy procedure in a different spot -- and his fifth operation overall since Sept. 5, 2007. He also had three shoulder operations.
MLB Rumor Central
ESPN Insider has the updated buzz from the Major League Baseball rumor mill.
Story Insider
The A's are optimistic Chavez will be ready by spring training 2010.
"We're all hopeful Eric's our third baseman next year," Beane said. "Obviously long term it's probably one area in the organization we have a need. We're going to keep [Wallace] over there, be patient with him and see how it goes."
Wallace, whom Oakland has liked since he was a freshman at Arizona State -- moved quickly through the Cardinals' farm system and was considered their top offensive prospect. The 13th overall draft pick last year, he was already at Triple-A Memphis. Whenever St. Louis needed help from the minors, Wallace's name came up, but manager Tony La Russa insisted he needed more time.
"I know this guy signed a year ago and has had success at every level he's played at. You look at that," A's manager Bob Geren said. "Around here, we don't put caps on anyone. When they're ready we move them up."
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Wallace, a left-handed hitter born in the Bay Area, was batting .293 with six homers, 19 RBIs and 11 doubles in 62 games for Memphis after starting the year in Double-A.
He played in the All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis earlier this month.
The Cardinals have been without third baseman Troy Glaus, who is rehabilitating from January shoulder surgery.
The A's recalled infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Holliday's spot on the 25-man roster and he was expected to join the team for Friday night's game against New York at Yankee Stadium.
"We got three players that we've always kind of liked," Geren said. "Happy about the trade, happy for Matt, too. Matt's going to go over to St. Louis and be right in the middle of a pennant race. It's a good deal for everybody."
Cards are going to be sick Luwick, Pujols, Holliday, and Schumaker !!!
