I have a rotten taste in my mouth and it’s called, “Holliday is traded to the A’s.” Not sure how much Billy Beane’s recently widowed aunt left him in the will, but it obviously must’ve been a tidy sum. The A’s just made themselves a contender. Or a contenda if Marlon Brando’s ghost is a Razzball reader. For those in NL-Only leagues, Holliday’s loss is your loss. In AL-Only leagues, you just got yourself a nice new addition. Pitchers going to Coors and Holliday going to a pitcher’s division. There’s that rotten taste again. The Holliday trade from a fantasy perspective:
Matt Holliday – Takes a huge hit on his value, but it doesn’t completely zap all of his value. As a Rockie, he was a 1st rounder. This knocks him back to the third round. He is a lot more of an average hitter than a big bomber. Let’s not forget, he only hit 25 home runs calling Coors home. Now he’ll be dealing with pitchers he’s not as familiar with and dealing with a ginormous foul territory. Rumor has it that the foul territory in Oakland is home to Bigfoot. No one’s sure because half of it is unexplored like the Arctic. Holliday will play most of his games in pitcher’s parks in a pitching division. A slight change from Coors where the air was as light as LC and Audrina conversations — No, Brody looked at me first! Not to mention, the A’s intestinal suckitude when it comes to moving runners and stealing. The steps forward Holliday took in adding speed into his game in 2008 may take a step back in 2009. Then there’s the fact it’ll be a walk year for Holliday since the A’s won’t negotiate a contract with him (unless Beane’s dead aunt was really wealthy). So, in a walk year, it’s conceivable to think Holliday will A) Try to do too much and do less B) Not run to avoid injury C) There is no C but I believe in rule of threes. Overall, Holliday’s fantasy value takes a hit, but he’s still a number one outfielder and a 3rd rounder overall. Think Justin Morneau in the OF.
