Comments on: A’s Grab Holliday

By: Ousy

Ousy — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:04:35 +0000

While I still debate whether it was a smart trade for the Rockies, it definitely worked out well for the them.

By: Sky

Sky — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:48:54 +0000

Are we calling Holliday a +4 WAA player or a +4 WAR player? Because by his WPA/LI history, the first seems more appropriate. And that matches with Justin’s stats.

By: James

James — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:42:48 +0000

At this point it looks like it was the Gonzalez/Street/Smith deal. I trust Beane on prospects as far as Gonzalez is concerned, and then a closer near arbitration (and coming off a bad year) and a league average pitcher? Beane basically just got a year of Holliday for nearly nothing, and if the A’s aren’t competing can turn him into new young players at the deadline (or, as Will said, get himself some draft picks and some new young players)

By: Will

Will — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:16:42 +0000

Don’t forget that the A’s could keep him all year, let him leave, and take the 2 first round draft picks as compensation. Depending on who they gave up, they might have just gotten a years worth of Matt Holliday for free.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:13:03 +0000

I think this is a good deal for both teams, if the rumored package is what it turns out to be. Colorado gets some good potential out of a guy who they would lose to free agency in a year anyway and Oakland can either give the AL west a shot or turn around Holliday and deal him to a nervous competitor for a lot more talent than they gave up.

By: devil_fingers

devil_fingers — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:53:25 +0000

When you say +4 wins, you mean above average, right? So (using +2 WAR since he’s been an NL guy), he’s about a 6 WAR player, at least I have him at about that…yeah, that’s better than Mark Teixeira, just barely. The As are rumored to have a bit of a budget this year. Another decent hitter or two, coupled with blogosphere-favorite Mark Ellis, a weak division outside of the aging Angels…

Billy Beane rides again.

By: Bill B.

Bill B. — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:11:18 +0000

Don’t forget that Holliday won’t be in the pitching-rich NL West, with Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Derek Lowe (free agent), Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and all of the relievers we could name as well. Now, he moves into a division where the only notable pitchers are starters John Lackey and Felix Hernandez and relievers Jose Arredondo and J.J. Putz (K-Rod is a free agent, of course).

By: Rich J

Rich J — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:59:19 +0000

I understand Coors Field has an impact on Matt Holliday’s numbers, but before we
condemn a 2009 season in Oakland where he’ll still get to hopefully go “Vladimir Guerrero” on the Mariners and Rangers pitchers on a regular basis let’s consider his current situation in Colorado.

Just for fun, let’s not forget that he’ll lose plate appearances at Coors Field, but this also means he no longer has to play a chunk of games in Chavez Ravine, at Petco, at whatever they call it in San Francisco, and at Chase Field in Arizona. These parks are kind of kryptonite for Matt Holliday.

Coor’s Field GPA
.352 (1517 plate appearances)

Petco Park GPA
.211 (171 plate appearances)

Dodger Stadium GPA
.250 (151 plate appearances)

Pac Bell/AT&T Park GPA
.254 (185 plate appearances)

Bank One/Chase Field GPA
.272 (149 plate appearances)

at 11 American League Parks he’s visited GPA
approximately .287 (140 plate appearances)

320/400/550 can’t be expected in 2009, but hopefully his slugging doesn’t turn him into Bug Holliday 311/376/448 of the 19th Century Cincinnati Reds.

By: Watcher

Watcher — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:42:30 +0000

If I’m not mistaken, it’s generally better to buy early and sell late in a trade market. It may be that Oakland can get value for Holliday at the trade deadline that equals what they’ll give up now, or exceeds it. If he continues to produce in a non-Coors environment, his value in June could be higher than it is in January.

This is obviously all moot until we know what Oakland will give up.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:20:42 +0000

This trade by itself doesn’t seem to make sense for Billy Beane to make for the A’s. Because of what your data shows, I don’t consider the A’s four wins or so from competing for a playoff spot; and I can’t believe Beane would make this trade for an improved team that still won’t contend for the playoffs. I assume there must be something more, or maybe the A’s were just really down on the players they traded away.