Thursday, November 13, 2008

Holliday trade no reason for A's fans to celebrate

I’ve been trying to get excited about the trade A’s general manager Billy Beane’s swung with Colorado for outfielder Matt Holliday. It should be easy, right? Holliday is a legitimate star, something the A’s sorely lacked. He’s a big-time hitter who has slugged 128 home runs and driven in 483 in just five seasons. He’s young and talented.

Sorry, can’t do it.

This is just another instance of Billy being Billy, trading players as if they were baseball cards but having no end game in sight.

Holliday knows he should rent and not buy in the Bay Area. He’ll most likely be traded around the July deadline when desperate playoff contenders will bid his price through the roof. Or, he’ll walk away after one season, and the A’s will collect high draft picks as compensation.

Just don’t expect Holliday to be an Athletic long-term. He’ll make $13.5 million in 2009. He’ll be a free agent after this season. His agent is Scott Boras, Mr. Hardball himself. Get the picture? Holliday will demand and command more money than the small-budget A’s would ever consider spending.

I sympathize with A’s fans. They’re facing the same sorry situation they’re almost always facing. They’ll be watching a talented player knowing he’ll soon be gone. That’s great. Only the most naïve A’s fans would make an emotional investment in Holliday, no matter how many home runs he hits.

I’ll enjoy the Holliday show while it lasts in Oakland. I just won’t get too excited.

8 comments:

  1. you're a douche

    if he gets traded thats a good thing, we'll be getting something in return. If he isn't traded whats the problem? pitching is still good, and we'll have an all-star hitter in our lineup

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  2. i agree, you are a douche

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  3. I'm impressed by all the readers who know French.

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  4. seriously i agree with the first guy. what is so bad about this trade? ITS NOT A SAD SITUATION FOR A'S FANS. WE LIKE THIS TRADE, AND WE KNOW HE IS GONNA LEAVE, YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, WHENEVER THE A'S TRADE SOMEONE WE GET SOMEONE BETTER IN RETURN.

    stick to football this post suucked

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  5. I'd love the trade if the A's had any intention of keeping Holliday long-term. He's a great, young talent. I'm just tired of them either trading or losing via free agency so many talented players and fan favorites, a list that includes Giambi, Tejada, Hudson, Haren, Hardon, Blanton, Mulder, Dye, Damon, Byrnes, Swisher, Kotsay and even Scutaro. It almost always comes down to money, which stinks.

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  6. its a win-now move for the A's... and don't kid yourselves - they lose out if/when they trade Holliday, because Carlos Gonzalez will be getting better for another team while Beane will be looking for a new batch of prospects that are at the growth-stage Gonzalez was at two years ago ... it'll be a step-backwards .. this trade is only good if they go all the way in 09

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  7. No matter what the A's will continue to blow for years to come. They will never be able to compete with the halo's. Have a good opening day Oakland.

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