Cardinals serious contenders for Holliday?
Joe Strauss, the Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, had the following to say about Athletics slugger Matt Holliday:
"My information is that Holliday badly wants to play in St. Louis and would be receptive to a long-term arrangement if the Cardinals acquire him. That said, the A's are asking a ransom for him (Ludwick, Motte/Perez, prospect). That price may drop next month. However, right now it's one the Cardinals aren't prepared to play."
The fact that Holliday is receptive to a potential long-term deal will likely pique the Cardinals' interest quite a bit, as they likely wouldn't want to give up a ton of talent for a mid-season rental. Even still, just as Strauss said, the asking price is very high so the Cards will undoubtedly wait until closer to the trade deadline for the price to drop.
The question is this: Is Holliday that much of an upgrade over Ludwick? A lot of people will say no because of Holliday's current stats, but they are forgetting that Holliday place in a pitcher's park that saps power away from even the biggest swingers. If the Cardinals can somehow hold onto Ludwick and obtain Holliday with the likelihood of an extension past this season, they can legitimize their lineup and surround Pujols with plenty of protection in the lineup. Imagine this lineup after the trade deadline:
Schumaker
Rasmus
Pujols
Holliday
Ludwick
Greene (if producing like he can)
Molina
Pitcher
Ryan
That lineup would take some pressure of Ludwick to produce. I think that's a lot of his problem right now, and he had another legitimate bat in the lineup last year to help produce in Glaus.I feel like this lineup could do some serious damage. And if the team stayed intact next season, add on hitting sensation Brett Wallace at third base and the lineup becomes riddled with a mixture of average and power guys who can make for a long night for opposing pitchers.
I'm not saying this deal is going to happen, but I think it would be a great step in the right direction toward really making a push for this year, as well as subsequent seasons.
Leave some comments with your analysis.
- -- Posted by oldtrougher on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 10:15 AM
- -- Posted by Brandon Higgins on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 10:26 AM
- -- Posted by oldtrougher on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 10:57 AM
- -- Posted by Brandon Higgins on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 11:10 AM
- -- Posted by sfurby on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 12:26 PM
- -- Posted by Brandon Higgins on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 1:24 PM
- -- Posted by Baseballfan88 on Tue, Jul 7, 2009, at 2:42 PM
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