The Oakland A's have been dangling slugger Matt Holliday as trade bait for months now, and it appears the Atlanta Braves may be biting.
Mychael Urban, MLB.com's beat writer for the A's, reported today (scroll down) that he's hearing rumblings again of a Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera for short stop Yunel Escobar and prospects.
Urban writes that Atlanta would need the A's to take on most of the roughly $6.5 million remaining on Holliday's contract, which certainly wouldn't seem like much of a roadblock for the deal.
Both Holliday and Cabrera are free agents at the end of the year so Atlanta would be acquiring two rental players, but Holliday projects as a type A free agent so they would also receive draft pick compensation should Holliday sign somewhere else.
The Braves have been looking to bolster their offensive output, especially from the outfield, however Holliday hasn't produced the same gaudy numbers we've grown accustomed to over the past few years. He's batting just .276 with only 8 HR on the year.
Escobar, despite struggling with some back issues, is batting .293 with 7 HR and 44 RBI.
Personally, I don't really see this moving making Atlanta all that much better. While I am a believer in Matt Holliday, I'm not sure his turnaround is going to happen this year. It may come next year after he's landed a big contract somewhere and that would be too late for the Braves.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This trade makes no sense at all for the Braves! Matt and Orlando will be walking after the season. Why give up a talented SS for two rental players who are both struggling? This will be Mark Tex all over again.
Algenis, first of all, this would make them a better team this year and while they’re behind, they’re not completely out of contention. Also, the Braves would receive draft picks if/when Holliday walked and could conceivably receive a pick for Cabrera as well. And last but not least, the Braves would be saving some money if they got Oakland to pick up Holliday’s contract.
I’m not saying I think the deal would be a great one for the Braves, but those would seem to be the ideas behind it.
great trade only if braves can sign him to an extention. even mark signed a 1-year deal during his walk year and guess what the name of his agent was? Vaz and Mike may be gone at the end though to clear salary for matt. Time for Matt to get out of the park where offenses go to die
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