Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday plans to play in 2017 despite the team’s recent decision to decline his option, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com tweets. “I have a lot of good baseball left in me,” he says. He adds, however, that he doubts he will return to St. Louis, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets.
The Cardinals recently made clear that they would pay Holliday a $1M buyout rather than paying him $17MM next season. Holliday then issued a statement in which he thanked the Cardinals organization but did not indicate whether he would continue playing.
Holliday returned from a thumb injury to hit a pinch-hit homer against the Pirates yesterday, but he’s otherwise had a modestly disappointing season, batting .244/.320/.459 in 425 plate appearances — a decent enough line for most hitters, but perhaps not for one with limited defensive and baserunning value. Nonetheless, as MLBTR’s Jeff Todd pointed out yesterday, the 36-year-old Holliday should still attract interest on the free agent market, perhaps from an AL team hoping to have him occupy the DH spot at least part of the time. He remains a productive hitter, and his career .303/.382/.515 line and solid clubhouse reputation should make him a desirable target for a team hoping to bolster its lineup.
37 year old, down on his luck player? That’s a future Giants player if I’ve ever seen one.
I doubt Holliday plays for a NL team not named the cardinals
I can see Holliday playing for other National league teams. He flat out said he wants to play. He is familar with the National league. Giants make sense. He is not going to turn down other National league teams for some affinity to the Cardinals who are cutting him loose.
Lmao, that’s not what he meant. He meant Holliday is more suited for an AL club bc of the dh.
Yep sure sounds like it. Except not sure the fans would ever forgive him for what he did to Scutaro. I think SF need an impact OFer that can hit the ball gap to gap and run. We were thinking Span might do that but he’s just been okay.
I bet holiday is a cardinal next year. Clearly the cards won’t pay his 17M option. I could see maybe a 1-2 year deal worth about 5-7 million
Not going to happen
Boras factor coming into play here and a real shame. would have been nice to see this guy retire as a Cardinal, who seemed to become more of a guy attached to that guy (boras) than the Cardinals for years and the soul of the team after Pujols left especially.
What might be kind of comical in this offseason.. Not holliday related.. Is Boras’s lack of high end talent and the people he has begging for deals with Weiters, holliday, carlos gomez etc.. people he’s going to have to be running major spin factors on.
What has this got to do with Boras? The cards are declining his option and letting him walk. It’s business.
Sounds like you’ve got a prepared Boras statement that you couldn’t find a way to post somewhere else.
Sad to see him go, as he’s been a Cardinals staple throughout the last 8ish years. Always liked Matt…seems like a good dude. But with the Cardinals having a lot of young OFers, it’s probably time to move on. Thanks for all of the great memories though, a really solid player. Hope he’s able to finish out his career on a positive note.
Cardinals will sign Cespedes or Fowler after they opt out of there deals
He needs to go to a AL team that needs his bat on the DH spot. I would look at Boston 1st they are losing Ortiz so Matt can do it.
Has anyone hit a ball into the green monster and it stuck?
Holliday can.
1st Prize: Best Comment
Oakland seems likely
I’d be stoked personally
He wont go back to Oakland hes been there and didn’t like it, he will play for a team that has a chance to make the post season!
Most likely Baltimore, they bring in power bats with just enough pop left in them. 1 year deal to the O’s
I think Holliday would fit great with the O’s in that stadium full time DH=30+ homeruns
Toronto should sign him, losing two corner OFs and DH… He will fit in there somewhere… Could be Baltimore or Boston as well…
You know…..I’m probably all by myself on this one. I’ve been like some other hypocrite Cardinal fans over the past 2 years. Been very disappointed with the amount of games Holiday has been able to play, etc. I was wanting him to play less and the younger players play more. After the Cardinals announced they weren’t going to pick up his option I initially said “well, they had to do it because of his past 2 year performance.” After he came in the game as a pinch hitter and hit a home run and saw his emotion, I began thinking differently. Here’s a guy who has been dedicated to the Cardinals! He could have originally signed elsewhere for more money. At times during his stay, he carried the team on his back. He moved to St. Louis, got involved in the community. Took rookies under his belt such as he did David Freese, and as he has taken rookies under his wing these past 2 seasons. He’s definitely been well worth his free agent contract over and beyond in other respects!!! Now, I think the Cardinals are doing the wrong thing!! When Holiday signed his contract with an option I’m sure he has worked extra hard to insure his contract would be picked up. He even moved to Jupiter last winter to rehab his leg, and learn to play 1st base. Etc. Etc. Etc. Because of his past heroics, past loyalty to both the team and city, I believe they should pick up his option. He deserves it. Not for the past 2 seasons but for all he’s done positives he’s done for inside the Cardinals organization and outside. So DeWitt, pay him his money!! He’s sent plenty your way. Much more than $17 million!!!!!
I am with you 100% on this one. Only it didn’t take seeing his emotions to solidify picking him up in 2017. $17mil is a bit steep given his last 2 years of injuries, I would like to see them sign him to a 1-3yr deal ranging anywhere from $8mil- $27mil depending on term. I read an article earlier today about Wainwright and how he has earned the right to write his future with the organization. I tend to agree with that statement however if Wainwright has earned that right Holliday has as well. Atleast in my opinion. StL has a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse as it stands but losing Holliday will without a doubt have a profound affect atleast when considering the outfield and the young guys stepping into larger roles. Holliday deserves to stay he defines “the Cardinal way”. great post, his raw emotions show the feeling is mutual with not only the team and organization but the fans as well.
Not sure about him taking less money I thought when holiday signed there was a lot of people saying the cards bid against themselves and overpaid. I remember boras getting a lot of credit for that deal
That may be true Seth. But don’t you think that because of what he’s done with the team, including his leadership, community relations, his charitable organizations, and his influence on young players that the Cardinals should look past the last couple of years and either pick up his option per sign him to a 3 year contract as mentioned above??? All 3 years wouldn’t necessarily be for playing. How about with additional duties as an assistant hitting coach.
All is true in what you post. If only this situation reminds us that baseball is a business first?
As cold as it sounds Holiday and the Cardinal fans who share these emotions with him are good for the moment but not for the longer term?
I had difficulty in watching the warm send off the great fans gave Holiday. I had difficulty watching it because, in the end, when it came down to business, it was a send off. If only the baseball business were to put a monetary value on character he would of retired a Cardinal.
I agree whole=heartedly. Matt Holliday is the heart and soul of Cardinal baseball. He deserved to play out his career here in St. Louis, and the fans voted their support by insisting they see him in the last game. What more could any owner, manager, or fan ask of a team player than Holliday contributed. He was there visiting Children’s Hospital he promoted St. Louis fans everywhere he went. Must seem like he’s leaving Baseball Purgatory instead of Baseball Heaven.
I’ll follow wherever he plays. He was a Cardinal favorite and he’ll always be my favorite Cardinal.
Baseball is a business hes not a good fielder and will be better as a DH! Businesses don’t go by heart they do what good for business!
I could him joining Boston to replace Papi if the Sox decide Edwin Encarnacíon or Bautista are too expensive. Baltimore could be a fit too. They’ve had great success with Cruz, Trumbo, etc in the DH role.
I think that Moz and Mathaney would be a GREAT fit in Arizona with LaRussa! Someone please write a recommendation for them to go there!!! Ha!
Why do our pitchers have so many arm issues? Is this normal for all teams? Something wrong with our training or preparation? It just seams like we have had more than enough issues with the pitching staff!
He’s gonna go to AL