Cardinals won’t exercise Matt Holliday’s 2017 option

St. Louis will not exercise Matt Holliday’s 2017 option, according to Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Holliday was activated from the disabled list and hit a home run in the Cardinals’ 7-0 win Friday night.

Though there is a possibility the Cardinals sign Holliday to a new deal this off-season, it’s unclear whether there is mutual interest in doing so.

Since the option for next season was worth $17 million, it was unlikely the Cardinals make such a significant investment in a veteran player. Instead, the $1 million buyout ensures they won’t be obligated to make roster moves if Holliday were to again land on the disabled list.

Holliday, 36, had a slow offensive year with the Cardinals, posting a .244/.320/.459 average with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. Holliday has proven to be a power threat throughout the course of his career, but his defense and running abilities appear to indicate he is regressing.

Last season, Holliday’s power was minimal but he got on base routinely. In his last two seasons with the Cardinals, Holliday has been plagued by injuries.

Still, Holliday is a career .303 hitter, which could make him attractive to teams seeking power.

While the Cardinals might not be an ideal option for Holliday, American League clubs might view him as a favorable designated hitter candidate. He has still proven he can add power to a club’s lineup and might benefit from not playing defense routinely.

The Cardinals could explore free agent or trade options this winter, with Randal Grichuk expected to move to one of the corners.