Holliday to Oakland
ESPN is reporting that The Colorado Rockies have agreed to ship Matt Holliday to the Oakland A's with finishing details still being worked out.
I'm just fine the Red Sox didn't get Holliday, not that they were ever mentioned as a contender for his bat. While Holliday is a fine hitter and just entering his prime, his home/road splits are a concern:
2006 - 2008 splits
Home - .361/.430/.669 - 869 G, 62 HRs, 219 RBI
Road - .296/.370/.486 - 908 G, 33 HR, 120 RBI
Holliday will most likely get himself a very rich contract (not with the A's, but with someone), but his split make it far too big a gamble to make it worth it. Holliday did close the gap between home/road this year, but there is too much to be concerned with those splits.
Oakland will let him play out 2009 and then let him sign a mega-deal with another team a year from now only to get handsomely rewarded themselves with a first round pick and a supplemental pick. The conclusion Billy Beane answered in making this deal was whether the players he gives up are worth more or less than 1 year of Holliday and 2 great picks. Obviously he thinks Holliday and 2 great picks is the better package.
It's like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry dated the woman who looked good sometimes and ghastly other times depending on the lighting. Which Holliday are you getting? We shall see.
