The game's most prized free agent-to-be is now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Matt Holliday, around whom, for months, speculation has swirled as the subject of a big mid-season trade by Oakland A's was sent to St. Louis for minor league third baseman Brett Wallace, outfielder Shane Peterson, and pitcher Clayton Mortensen. Read Story.
After being dealt from the Colorado Rockies, the team he led to the World Series in 2007, Holliday struggled in his first couple months in Oakland. By the end of April, he was batting .240 with only one home run, and by May 4, he was batting a season low .223. Holliday just didn't like his short time in Oak Town.
Now he won't even have to finish what was likely to be his only season there. He goes from the terrible A's to the first place Cardinals, who already have the best player in baseball in Albert Pujols. Pujols, in case you were not paying attention, leads the world with 34 homers and 90 RBI so far this season.
This figures to be a lethal combination for the Cardinals. Pujols followed by Holliday will definitely make the Cardinals a huge contender for the National League crown for the third time in this decade.
It will be interesting to see how Holliday takes to his new team. The Cardinals are one of the best franchises in baseball, and, next to the Yankees, are MLB's most successful team with 10 world championships and decades of great tradition and history. Moreover, the Cardinals have the "best fans in baseball," typically very loyal and supportive of its players even if they are not putting up huge statistics.
Perhaps the Yankees and Mets better think twice before they make plans to pursue Holliday in the off-season because, if things go well in St. Louis, they ought not to be shocked if Holliday decides to stay there.
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