Jason Bay signing leaves less options for Matt Holliday

by Eli Greenspan on Dec 30, 2009 12:41 AM EST

With Jason Bay off the books and the Mets no longer in the outfield market, the likelihood that free agent outfielder Matt Holliday returns to St. Louis increases.

Bay missed out on a bigger payday by not signing earlier in the offseason (Holliday will probably say the same soon). Bay will make around 16.5 million dollars per year, meaning that Holliday will earn somewhere between 16-18 million next season.

Sources say there is no clear frontrunner for Holliday, but that at least five teams remain in contact concerning Holliday, including the Cardinals.

The source went on to say that he expects talks between Holliday and the Cardinals to heat up in the next couple of days, particularly because the Mets are out of the mix and the Cardinals are inclined to make a deal.

The Orioles have been monitoring the Holliday situation all offseason, and could enter the mix now that an informal price has been set. The Orioles need a corner outfielder, and have a solid core of young players that could appeal to Holliday. However, playing in the AL East is not something Holliday has proven to be effective in.

Holliday is a three-time All-Star who batted .313 with 24 home runs and 109 RBIs splitting the 2009 season between the Cardinals and Oakland Athletics. He is a career .318 hitter in six seasons.

All signs point to Holliday landing back in St. Louis. It is good for him, good for Albert Pujols, and good for the Cardinals.

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Boras lost any leverage he had

I just want it to be over one way or another :P

In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his recievers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
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by Taskmaster on Dec 30, 2009 1:02 AM EST reply actions

The Orioles have a surplus of outfielders…Luke Scott, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Felix Pie, AND Nolan Reimold…why do they need a corner outfielder???

And if anything but money was involved in Holliday’s desicion, Why would he be interested in a solid core of young players over Albert Pujols?

"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host

by bwellnjonesco on Dec 30, 2009 9:32 AM EST reply actions

It's all about the Benjamins

>>if anything but money was involved in Holliday’s desicion

Sure, there are other factors.
But ultimately, none of them matter when stacked up against the money. Maybe if it’s within $2M over the entire course of a 6 year contract, otherwise, it’s always about the money.

by 18 Mile on Dec 31, 2009 3:08 AM EST reply actions