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By Tim Dierkes [August 18, 2008 at 10:14am CST]
Ken Rosenthal posted a new Full Count video this weekend.
- Rosenthal believes the Rockies are "almost certain to trade Matt Holliday this offseason." Should be a hot topic at the Winter Meetings in December. Rosenthal says to watch out for smaller-revenue sleepers on Holliday like the Nationals, Royals, and Blue Jays. Holliday, a Boras client, is set to earn $13.5MM in '09 before he hits free agency.
- Rockies closer Brian Fuentes has yet to hit the waiver wire, but he will soon. Rosenthal wonders if the Dodgers would win the claim if their record is worse than Arizona's when Fuentes hits the wire. The Marlins, Astros, and the NL non-contenders would have to pass first. I could see the salary-shy Dodgers passing on Fuentes, but the Phillies probably wouldn't let him get to the Mets. At any rate, a team would have to beat two draft picks to pry Fuentes loose in a trade.
- Somewhat surprising new addition to our cleared waivers list - Braves center fielder Mark Kotsay. Apparently a number of teams are interested in the resurgent Kotsay, though not enough to take on his remaining salary.
- The Braves nearly acquired Jason Bay in July, and will be in the market for a slugging outfielder this winter. They'll also be looking for a quality starter, likely in the Ryan Dempster/A.J. Burnett/Jon Garland range. Click here to browse the free agent market.
Kotsay will probably make Type B FA as well. A Kotsay trade would not be a salary dump, for the A's cover much of his 2008 salary and thus there isn't much to dump.
Tampa Bay looks like a good fit with Crawford out.
Posted by: melonis rex | August 18, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Couldn't imagine the Jays going after Holliday. Would probably cost Snider to get him, and I don't see Snider going anywhere for a one year rental.
Cooper maybe?
Posted by: juiced | August 18, 2008 at 11:24 AM
What's the cost for Fuentes? If the Rocks just dump him (which they won't), isn't the two additional picks worth the million or so Fuentes would cost?
I just don't see any downside to putting in a claim for him.
Posted by: bjsguess | August 18, 2008 at 12:19 PM
I don't understand the Rockies.
Why not trade him for a 1.5 year rental. He would have been worth more than just a 1 year rental. They could have landed better prospects, saved several million (the remainder of his 2008 salary), and started restocking the farm system earlier.
Posted by: bjsguess | August 18, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Halladay and Holliday must be on the same team next year.
Posted by: Teetz | August 18, 2008 at 12:42 PM
I can't really put my finger on why I think this other than a gut feeling, but I see Sheets ending up in Atlanta rather than with one of the bigger market teams. I don't think he'll end up costing what a lot of people are projecting him to.
Posted by: Jon B. | August 18, 2008 at 12:54 PM
I call BS on the Holliday info. There's no way Toronto or KC will offer more than the Rox for Holliday. And neither are going to go to the well like a desperate contender like the Red Sox will.
Holliday will either accept a shorter term deal with the Rox or be sent to a powerhouse.
Posted by: ProgMatinee | August 18, 2008 at 02:05 PM
The Red Sox? Did you forget they just got Jason Bay? Where do you want Holliday to play, CF?
Posted by: nrmax88 | August 18, 2008 at 03:02 PM
I could see Kotsay coming back to the bay and signing with the Giants. He is one of the few Major Leaguers that would look good in a Giants uin.
Posted by: Joe505 | August 18, 2008 at 03:12 PM
I could see the Sox including Bay or Drew in a 3 way deal much like they did with Manny to get Holliday.
Posted by: ProgMatinee | August 18, 2008 at 03:25 PM
I'd love to see the Yankees go after him to play RF. Abreu is a free-agent to be and although he's a good hitter...he's a liability in the field and seven years older. Holliday would be excellent protection for ARod.
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | August 18, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Actually I agree that Holliday would make a lot of sense for the Yankees. Their outfield will likely look quite different next season, I wouldn't expect Melky to get major playing time, and with Abreu and Giambi coming off the books, this is a team that needs an elite middle of the order bat to pair with Rodriguez. Holliday isn't that old, and would almost assuredly be signed long term and become a mainstay in their lineup.
Obviously he would cost quite a lot though, and this is where I think the deal could fall apart. They would almost undoubtedly have to give up Hughes, and I'm sure the Rox would show serious interest in Kennedy, Jackson, Montero, Betances, Melancon and Brackman.
And hey, just for fun, what about a Holliday for Cano swap. I'm sure the Rockies would love to get their hands on a guy like him if they moved Holliday.
Posted by: scribbletone | August 18, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Considering that Holliday will be a free-agent after 09' and command a monster deal....and that his numbers aren't nearly as high away from Colorado, the asking price should be high but not insane.
That being said, as a Yankees fan, I would swap Cano and change for Holliday... and Colorado should dig that idea. Holliday is an awesome talent...but it is slightly harder to find a 2B with .300 25 100 potential than a power hitting corner outfielder. Plus, there are decent replacements in free agency for Cano in Hudson, Ellis & Miles.
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | August 18, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Exactly what I was thinking with the Cano swap. I'd expect the Rockies to be pretty excited if they could land that type of young star. Building around Cano, Tulo, Stewart, Iannetta, Fowler and all their young pitching seems like a pretty good long term plan.
But your thought process on Holliday's trade value is way off. While it's true that his numbers are way better at Coors, and theoretically that would lower his value to other teams, it does nothing to change his value to Colorado. In reality, Holliday is simply a very, very good bat, but to the Rockies, he's an MVP-caliber stud. The Rockies will want a return for the player he was for Colorado, not what he'll be after he leaves.
Posted by: scribbletone | August 18, 2008 at 09:53 PM
You may be right...and that may be the reason ultimately he stays put. Just like with Santana last summer, teams are leary to trade top prospects AND give a guy an 8/160 extension....especially to a team that has shown (with the exception of the Helton trade...and look how that has turned out) it's not going to give these monster contracts.
Don't get me wrong, I love Holliday! I'm just sure that if the Rox start having ideas of Hughes, Montero and Betances...the convo will be a VERY short one. Cano? Maybe. :)
Nice chattin with you~
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | August 19, 2008 at 07:51 AM