Offseason Trade Reaction - Holliday to A's

Happening on the same day as the Olsen/Willingham deal, I don't think anyone expected this blockbuster. S.I.'s Jon Heyman first reported that the A's had traded for Matt Holliday. Let's sum it up:

The A's got ::: Matt Holliday (OF)
The Rockies got ::: Carlos Gonzalez (OF) - Greg Smith (LHP) - Huston Street (RHP)

My Thoughts: The Rockies just barely come out on top here. Probably looking to rebuild now, the key prospect Carlos Gonzalez has been compared to Carlos Beltran. From watching him this year, I think he could be a .290 / .330 / .500 guy, and those will only go up playing in Coors. As a 22 year old this year, he hit .242 / .273 / .361 in 302 ABs. Pitcher Greg Smith is a finesse lefty who is still only 24. He had a 7-16 record this year (which really is irrelevant, considering how bad the A's offense was this year) who posted a 4.16 ERA this year in 190 IP. The most impressive part - he allowed only 169 hits. Greg Smith could become a #2 starter, of course in Coors, he might just become another Jeff Francis - which isn't bad, but not his potential. Huston Street was also acquired by the Rockies. Street, 24, won the ROY as a 21 year old closer racking up 43 saves in 2005. Guys with his stuff don't just fall apart as easily as he did. Street will be come another 30 save closer, but will he just be dealt again? The Rockies have Manny Corpas and Taylor Bucholz who could also take over the closing duty. I don't think so - I think Street earns his closer role back in Colorado and becomes an all-star again. Look for him to become a serious comeback player.

Now to the big part of the deal - Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday is in the last year of his contract, so it seems the A's gave up a bit much to get Matt. A Boras client and only 29, you gotta figure Hollidays asking price will be nearly 18 mil a year, even if he has a down year. Holliday won't be re-signed by the A's in the offseason, they don't have the money to do that. It seems Holliday is here to try and bring playoff hope to the A's, but if they are out of it by mid-season, he will be dealt. Of course, if Holliday is stinking up the joint in McAfee, a hitter killer park, that could become a problem, and this trade would be looked upon as horrid for the A's. I think Holliday will post a .300/.370/.490 line in Oakland. That is what his splits suggested, anyways.

I don't usually want to question Billy Beane. The guy is one of the best GMs in baseball, and seems to always make the right move - but he doesn't fit in with moneyball (Power, Walks). This really is a close trade though, at least until we see what the A's do this year.