Update: HOLLIDAY A CARD 7yr/120 million, p178

[Maclowery]

Here's to hoping that he signs a great big contract so we don't feel like we lost out, and we in turn draft a true talent that makes me forget about Walrus' pretty swing and sexy thighs.

[JL21]

That is a lot of ifs and Holliday was pretty good. The trade was worth it, even if Wallace turns into a decent hitter, IMO. They'll get two picks for Holliday and can draft replacements for Wallace. Keep drafting the older, more polished hitters and you are back in the same place as you were the year before.

I don't think it's a big if at all that he could develop that way. Even in a down year in AAA, at age 22, he was an .815 OPS guy.

Given the draft history under Luhnow and the army of crappy quad-A prospects they've "developed", what are the odds they'll draft more guys with Wallace's ceiling? And when will they be drafting as high as they did when they drafted Wallace? I'm as down on Wallace as a prospect as most, but I'm not so dumb to think that players like him grow on trees or that it's as simple as just drafting "polished older hitters" (Michael Ferris, Nick Stavinoha, etc...).

[greenback44]

Wallace in the outfield could've been an Duncan-like adventure.

Heyman is an idiot, but he's also Boras's mouthpiece.

[Eephus Speed]

That said, if some team throws Tex money at Holliday, I'll understand why they didn't re-sign him.

Who, other than the Yankees, could do that?

If it isn't the Yankees, it probably won't be about money (i.e., it seems to me that we could offer just as much as any team other than the Yankees). $126 million over 7, or something like that. It'll be because Holliday wants to play elsewhere.

[clevername]

even if it is the Yankees it may not be about money.

[JL21]

Wallace in the outfield could've been an Duncan-like adventure.

Perhaps, but that's alleviated a little by having Rasmus next to him. And frankly, Duncan did far better in the advanced metrics than he does with the eye test. Either way, there's value to Wallace being able to do what he could've done for league-minimum salary.

Who, other than the Yankees, could do that?

If it isn't the Yankees, it probably won't be about money (i.e., it seems to me that we could offer just as much as any team other than the Yankees). $126 million over 7, or something like that. It'll be because Holliday wants to play elsewhere.

Tex money? Pretty much only the Yankees would do something like that. But there's a big gap between, say, the $100M cap that the Cardinals allegedly have for re-signing Holliday, and the $180M that Tex got. And a lot of teams could do that- the Mets, the Red Sox if Bay leaves (and if they're smart, they'd prefer Holliday anyway), and the Angels are all obvious choices, and I'd have them all pegged as being likely to outspend the Cardinals. Really, I'd think that anything over $120M is going to put him out of the Cardinals reach. Then you've got the fleet of teams that try to make a big splash and take a run at guys like Holliday (the O's, Giants, Nats... basically Heyman's list).

[BigDCardlvr]

at some point we'll get a false report that Matt Holliday has signed with somebody else... you can pretty much count on it

Sometimes I think Boras has media connections to get these false rumors swirling to help up the price of his client.

I would bet that the "friend" source to heyman for this article happens to be on the Boras payroll.

[jagtrader]

I have no idea what Holliday wants. I have no idea if he'll return. I think the Cardinals should put together their best offer. If he turns it down, and he presumably will since he's a Boras guy, the team should forget about him. He's just a ballplayer. With all the economic hardship in this country, he's hardly worth the angst.

If Holliday leaves, it's a bad trade. Giving up Wallace for a two-month rental is a bad idea for a team like the Cardinals. They could have dealt Wallace for something that helped the team long-term. That said, Wallace is replaceable if you draft well.

[Eephus Speed]

But there's a big gap between, say, the $100M cap that the Cardinals allegedly have for re-signing Holliday...

I guess I missed that rumor.

even if it is the Yankees it may not be about money.

True. He may simply want to play for the Yankees.

[Eephus Speed]

With all the economic hardship in this country, he's hardly worth the angst.

I don't think DeWitt and company are facing any hardship.