Holliday to Oakland. Really?
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Nov 10, 2008 
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So let’s try and figure this out. Billy Beane decided the A’s weren’t contenders last year and traded who he could. Now he is using three solid, under-control players (outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, starting pitcher Greg Smith and reliever Huston Street) to get Matt Holliday for one year?
Taking Holliday away from Coors Field to spacious Oakland Alameda County Some Computer Company Al Davis Coliseum should be an interesting exercise.
Two questions come to mind: Could Beane’s intention be to flip Holliday to another team? Does this mean he won’t want to sign Jason Giambi?
Next up: Jake Peavy. Tick … tick …tick.
Glad he isn’t coming here! Correction, I hope this means he isn’t coming here.
I bet Beane is looking forward to swapping Holliday at the deadline or just collecting 2 1st round picks next year…which might be more than he could have gotten for Harden and Blanton. Plus, he probably didn’t want to overpay for Street in arbitration. Otherwise, who knows???
As long as it means Holliday isn’t being fitted for pinstripes, I don’t care.
And, if he’s a one-year rental, there will be the one year in the AL in a pitcher’s park to see what Holliday can do outside of Colorado.
On name value this deal seems like a decent one for both sides for one year of Holliday. Street struggled last year a lot and was demoted from closing. Gonzalez had a terrible year (.273 OBP). Smith had a decent ERA and is a lefty.
Matt Holliday has a big opportunity here. Big question for him is whether or not he’s a true superstar or if he’s a product of Coors field. He hits in Oakland then that will send his free agent value soaring. If not, this move could cost him millions.
It’ll be also interesting to see how Smith does in Denver. His ERA was 4.16 (7 W – 16 L). But that seems to be a big product of his ball park and defense. Adjusting for the Oakland defense, his fielding independent pitching was 4.82. That’s a huge lift he got from his defense. He’s also generates very few ground balls (34%) and very few strike outs while walking a lot of hitters for a guy with fringe stuff (4/9).
I think this may have been a case where Beane felt like he had three assets whose perceived value on the market were greater than their actual value on the field.
It’s an interesting move. He could be assuming the Angels take a big step back this season.
“And, if he’s a one-year rental, there will be the one year in the AL in a pitcher’s park to see what Holliday can do outside of Colorado.”
Excellent observation.
10 year old Manny was better than Holliday right now.
Beane rarely make mistakes when he trades players. This one, I fear, is a bad mistake. Gonzalez can simply fly, smith wasn’t that bad (the team had no offence), and my guess is he didn’t want to pay street, but holiday is not worth all that. the rockies just got better.
So, is this the official start of Holliday shopping season?
/shows self out…
Well Oakland only finished 24.5 games back last season so I guess they’re shooting for an even 20.
this confirms two things the al just got better and jake peavy will be a yankee
Yanks can still get holliday wen he becomes a FA. and trust me he will hit the market. He’s a boras client.
The Yanks should have traded for Holliday.
If they pick up Giambi and the Halos being weaker. Assuming they lose Krod,Tex and Anderson. Thats not including an aging Guerrero. I see the A’s being in the thick of things in their division. But i think the angels will go hard after C.C. if they lose out on Tex. If thats the case then theyll win the division again. Alot of iffs. Lets see how it plays out.
The Angels can’t wait to see what happens with Tex in order to make a decision on whether or not to bid on CC. CC has said he wants to make a quick decision, whereas Tex, being a Boras client, will take his time to let all offers come in. He’ll certainly wait for Manny (another Boras client) in order to see what the market is.
Is it me or is this world getting stranger and stranger every day?
I think we should have the 2000 version of the bronx zoo.
Sign Manny for dh
Sign Bradley for left or right
Trade for Ichiro and Beddard
Let it be a royal rumble in the clubhouse. But bring us #27.
rebecca, you don’t seem any stranger than last year. i’d say it’s the world…
“Trade for Ichiro and Beddard”
No to Bedard. One of the reasons SEA isn’t happy with him is that he doesn’t seem to possess the love of the game that you’d usually find with a big league player (his passion is for hockey). That wouldn’t go over very well in Yankeeland.
Rebecca -
It’s not you, but what specifically are you referring to?
Anyone -
Forgive my naivete, but what exactly does Oakland have to do with the Angels? The Angels are in LA, way down the coast. I thought the Angels’ competition was the Dodgers, and the A’s competition was the Giants?
So I’m not totally understanding what Teixeira has to do with Oakland? I kinda get what CC has to do with any of the west coast teams, since he’s a west coast native.
saucY: Indeed.
Man, I don’t even have time to keep up with the offseason any more. It’s depressing.
Laura,
His attitude does suck. But hes pitching under a 4 e.r.a. year in and year out without loving the game. Thats darn right scary. Hell have him drop the puck in a few Rangers games if need be. Aside from C.C. Every other free agent pitcher is a crap shoot. Burnett and Sheets are injury prone. Peavy might not have the stuff to make it here. Why not go after someone who has dominated the a.l. east before. Assuming he is healthy.
Doreen: the Angels play in Anaheim, in Orange County. Don’t believe the hype!
Oh, and the A’s have to do with the Angels the same as the Yankees have to do with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Rays: divisional competitors. The Angels are to the Dodgers as the Yankees are to the Mets and the A’s are to the Giants: same-market-but-different-league rivals.
Laura,
Second try here.
Beddard doesnt have the love but has an e.r.a under 4 every year.
Peavy – might be an n.l. only pitcher
Sheets – injury prone
Burnett – see sheets
Lowe -good for the back of the rotation
Have a Beddard drop the puck in ranger games once in awhile to make him happy. His attitude stinks. But his game is Ace like and has done it in the a.l. east already.
“(his passion is for hockey)”
Have him drop the puck in some rangers games. He has been successfull in the a.l. east. All these free agents besides c.c. are question marks.
Thanks, Nick in SF.
I don’t know why, but I was totally not thinking about divisional stuff. Must be this head cold. Or something.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – yes, you can see their stadium from Disneyland! (I have a picture from the Disneyland Hotel!)
“I think we should have the 2000 version of the bronx zoo.”
Yes but who will be the straw that stirs the drink?
And what will the sequel to Moneyball be titled?
In this new era of Hope and Change, can a team actually located in Anaheim change its supposed location to Los Angeles and hope no one notices?
Yes it can.
Nick, no love for the Padres? Cali has 5 MLB teams for the largest state. They should add one more for the AL to make it even, which it will be 6.
Doreen,
Dont let the name fool ya. The angels should be called the Disneyland Angels way before the l.a. angels. All they were trying to do with the l.a. name is extend their sales to Dodger territory. Dont think it worked.
Oakland has been in a battle with the Halos for years now. Its seems like its always a 2 team race in the a.l. west. Therefore i assume that Beane felt the Angels are going to be weaker this year. So its worth going for it and trading for Holliday. I still think Giambi will also go.
Doreen,
I think Disney co-owns the Angels, which explains why you could see the stadium.
Beane will probably trade Holliday in July to a pennant contender who is desperate and get good value back.
West coast trips are long enough! No more Cali teams need apply.
My bad Doreen. Didnt see the Disneyland comment. Knotts barryfarm isnt far either. The Snoopy angels is next on that list.
Reggie can stir that drink.
Doreen,
I’m not getting the Peavy connection.
Ed: it’s true, I don’t love the Padres.
Peter,
That’s exactly what I was thinking…why???
To flip him to another team is the only reason I could come up with…soon or before the trade deadline.
Makes zero sense to me, but I do hope they keep him in Oakland until at least July because they are closest MLB team to where I live and it’d make their offense a lot more fun to watch.
Nick,
I don’t blame you. who does anyway?
The Padres’ main competition for the San Diego entertainment dollar is Shamu the Killer Whale.
Disney sold to a group headed by Arte Moreno around 2003.
Weren’t the A’s moving to San Jose at one point?
I just wish there was any news with the Yankees. I know they can’t sign free agents until the weekend, but what about Mussina, Pettitte, & Marte.
it’s a win-win for the A’s. They can trade Holliday at the deadline for a better haul than they gave up now, or if they contend, he’s a plus and then they can get a couple of draft picks when he leaves. They weren’t crazy about Street anymore (lost his closer spot), Smith is OK, but they have a lot of young pitching depth, and Gonzalez had a .273 OBP.
Doreen,
Are you saying that Moreno owns Disneyland?
Shucks. He’ll be able to offer Tex a lifetime supply of those Mickey Mouse batting gloves.
Mel -
The Peavy connection – I don’t see it either!
Nick in SF –
Don’t forget the Zoo. That is one heck of a Zoo they have in SD!
The A’s can’t move to San Jose because SJ is part of the Giants’ exclusive territory (which is goofy, but that’s the way it is). The A’s are currently planning/hoping to move to Fremont, which is further south on the east side of the Bay, the closest they can legally be to San Jose. But there is no final deal in place to do so, as far as I know.
Bronx Jeers,
Fremont…between Oakland and San Jose.
And yet they’ll be called The Oakland Athletics of Fremont.
Crappy.
I dont understand all of the conspiracy theories. Beane is running a major league baseball team and he wanted to bring in an all star. Doesn’t seem like much of a mystery, he wants to win this year so he got a good player with ones he found to be expendable. Besides, how can he get more value for half a year of Holliday than he gave for a full year of him?
Just heard that the A’s are going to trade Matt Holliday to the Phillies for Carrasco and Werth.
“He’ll be able to offer Tex a lifetime supply of those Mickey Mouse batting gloves.”
You forgot the batting helmets with ears on them.
Changing the subject. Who is the best base stealer ever? Not just by the overall numbers. But the hardest to pick off. Coleman? Henderson? etc.
mel -
That’s how rumors get started!!!!!!
No, Disney sold the baseball team. I keep forgetting that on this blog one has to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s lest one be misunderstood, though I know you know what I meant!
The Braves of Atlanta, however, do play their spring training home games at the baseball complex in Walt Disney World Orlando. It used to be called Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, but they’ve now got a deal with ESPN for that venue, so I don’t know what it’s being called now. And last season, I think the Marlins and/or the Tampa Bay Rays hosted a few home games in that same Orlando Disney venue I believe in the regular season, though I’m not sure, but I am sure that I’ve just provided far more information than anyone cares to know. Sorry….
Braintrust,
I agree.
The time they are taking with Pettitte concerns me. Moose ain’t coming back. They better not let Pettitte go…that’d be a terrible mistake when he would be an incredible 4/5 starter.
street has been traded to another team
“And yet they’ll be called The Oakland Athletics of Fremont.
Crappy.”
Not if their called the Fremont Athletics of Oakland. Now that has a ring to it.
Tim Raines has the highest SB % of alltime.
Doreen,
No. Didn’t know what you meant. But it’s all coming back to me now. Disney’s responsible for that horrible movie, “Angels in the Outfield”. Ugh.
Thanks for the lesson!
SOS,
No one touches Ricky Henderson.
Doreen- I think that the 3 game set was in 2007 Rays- Rangers. And I think it’s still called the Wide World of Sports despite the “new” acquisition of ESPN.
Ahh and again this year against the Jays.
Didnt know Raines was. Who would you think was the pitcher and catchers worst nightmare on the base pads?
Is it true that Roy Rogers used to own the Mighty Ducks?
Well, come 7/31 when it’s time for Beane to flip Holliday to another team, please let the Yankees not be the sucker getting the 2 month rental.
Well I guess if the Yanks can play in the South Bronx and the Mets can play in Flushing, the A’s can have Fremont.
I’ve been to the A’s stadium a couple of times and I like it. It may look like someone’s concrete nightmate from the outside but it’s very fan friendly once you’re in. Can’t see how moving them farther away from SF helps them attendence wise. I guess they’re thinking about the San Jose crowd heading north? Still there’s no train link from SJ to Fremont is there?
Nick,
Never heard about it.
Rob NY -
Man, how time flies! I could have sworn it was this past season. Oh, well. But thanks. You are indeed correct about there not being a name change.
Rickey Henderson = best baseball player of my life-time
stick michaels, agrees
Wasn’t Dale Rogers the honorary something in some event lately? Baseball? Football?
I forgot. Rickey probably agrees too
“Still there’s no train link from SJ to Fremont is there?”
Not sure. Why wouldnt SJ just take a flight to California from Florida? Makes no sense. Southwest is cheap. It rattles and you feel like the wing is falling off. No assigned seats. Your elbow is on the person next to you rib. But its cheap.
SOS,
On the A’s name, I disagree. Be the Oakland A’s or the Fremont A’s.
Its like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim…its crappy and too long.
“Is it true that Roy Rogers used to own the Mighty Ducks?”
Wow. Roy Rogers the owner of the ducks. Gene Autry the Angels. All we need is Clint Eastwood to own a team in socal.
The A’s don’t get much attendance from the actual City and County of San Francisco, and even less from SJ44. Most of their attendance comes from the East Bay — the theory is that Fremont is close enough to their fan base to keep them coming to the games while also being close enough to San Jose to attract the South Bay baseball fan.
In practice, who knows.
“The Freemont Athletics of Oakland, by way of Kansas City and Philadelphia”
Prince of Pinstripes,
I was joking. But it would be funny if the A’s stole the old Angels name and called themselves the California A’s. That would put that extra boost to the rivalry.
Sorry. Meant Prince in Pinstripes. Next time ill go the safe route. T.M.P.I.P.
Best Billy Beane Move Ever
The McDonalds guy owned the Padres. That’s why Tony Gwynn got so fat. Paid in cheeseburgers for his first 3 yrs.
S.o.S. – I have no idea what you’re saying but I like it anyway. Tell those bastards to fly if they don’t like it. This is pro baseball not some stupid dance party!
I’ve also heard that Hal Holbrook has a partial ownership stake in a team to be named later. Waiting for confirmation.
“S.o.S. – I have no idea what you’re saying but I like it anyway.”
Your my new best friend. lol. SJ44 is from Florida and is caleed SJ for short. Just having some fun. Ill make sure to give those bastards the memo.
So, to get from San Jose to Oakland one needs to fly from florida, on Southwest?
Tom, it’s just like getting to Carnegie Hall: practice.
Tom -
What is: Do you know the way to San Jose?
(I’m watching Jeopardy.)
I prefer taking a Zeppelin. Or maybe an autogyro.
SOS,
Nice…I like that idea..hahah.
Actually, I always thought it was stupid that the Angels stopped being the California Angels, but my understanding at the time was that other teams in Cali didn’t like it. Funny thing since the Golden State Warriors is essentially the same name.
“So, to get from San Jose to Oakland one needs to fly from florida, on Southwest?”
With gas prices going through the roof. Yes. You will save money and have enough for that $20 beer you were going to get.
So heres the recap.
San Jose to Oakland $100
Southwest from florida to Oakland $79
Beer at the ball game priceless.
Bronx Jeers,
So THAT’S why Gwynn was so HUGE!!!! hahahahaha…you all are coming up with some great stuff on here.
Tom,
The Titanic was the official carrier for the Yankees in 2008. Are you suggesting the Hindenburg be it for 2009?
T.M.P.I.P.,
What would really piss the Halos off would be if they even changed the cap to the interlinking C.A. That was once worn by the angels. With the A’s colors of coarse.
All this A’s talk reminds me of my first year in little league. I was on the athletics and went against the a’s in the championship game. We wore the same colors but opposite(red and blue. our names were red while theirs in blue.) We lost. But i could still brag that the Athletics won it all and not be lieing. Tough times back then. Glad leagues got smarter.
I could see Holliday– if he was having a good season — being flipped for Peavy or SF pitching. Big G will still be signed by OAK.
I heard Hal had a share in the Giants but sold it because the summers were the coldest winters he’d ever experienced. He should look into buying a piece of the Angels as they seem to stare into the abyss every time they play the Sox in the ALDS
SoS- I’m almost dissappointed the confusion is cleared up.
But bear in mind, I think it’s a free transfer on the bus from OAK airport to the stadium but to Fremont it’s probably 5$ on the BART. Then again Southwest still isn’t charging for checked luggage so I guess that evens it out a bit. I guess it all depends on if you’re drinking imported beer or domestic.
Bronx-
It’s $2 for a transfer from the OAK airport to BART.
Buddy, $2 isn’t enough for me, I would ask for $5 to get on BART.
Greg Smith sucks btw.
Good job Pete. I could not figure it out for the life of me. It HAS to be that they are going to trade him, and it was just easier (or more advantageous) to do it this way than to do a three way.
Man, I just could not figure out this trade earlier. Oakland always has a shot of sneaking a playoff spot, but this is a bold move that only makes sense if they trade Holliday.
Tom
November 10th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I prefer taking a Zeppelin. Or maybe an autogyro.
- — – - – - – - -
OK Tom . . . take your protein pill and put your helmut on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhSYbRiYwTY
Holliday is alot better than you guys give him credit for. Hes a .300 hitter away from Coors field and has been one of their most productive hitters for the past 3-4 years. I’d take him in a heartbeat.
Whether by draft or trade, Beane must figure he can get better value for Holliday than what he’s giving up. Maybe he’s not as high on those players. Maybe he’s already got a deal in place with another team on the condition that he first acquired Holliday.
Or maybe Oakland is finally going to spend money…or not.
Yankees should sign Holliday if he has a good year in hitting at that ball park. Damon and Matui’s contracts will come off with a combined value of close to $27 MM. Nady’s contract will come off at the end of 2009 and that will be time to reload. If Holliday does not have a good hitting year in 2009, Oakland will be in trouble.
Yankees should consider signing Abreu for a maximum 2 years at a total of $30 MM.