MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday To St. Louis

Derrick Goold with the St. Louis Dispatch:

"The wait might have been worth it for the Cardinals, as the club and free-agent outfielder Matt Holliday are working toward an agreement that multiple sources described as gaining momentum and potentially is the largest ever offered by the franchise....Boras has been seeking an eight-year contract with an average salary that compares with the $18-million salaries Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee currently make and exceeds the $16.5-million salary Jason Bay reportedly just signed with the Mets."

Largest until Pujols' contract. I can't wait to see how the mid-market Cardinals construct a roster in 2013 with Holliday and Pujols taking up $40+MM of payroll.

Add-in SP Adam Wainwright and...of wait, I'm not going to project AW that far in the future because an arm injury takes him from $15MM to incentive-laden deal.

MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday

With Buster Olney taking today off, I had to work harder and go directly to the St. Louis Dispatch for an update on the Matt Holliday situation. The best I see is this:

"Boras is believed to be seeking an eight-year deal for Holliday, a length of contract some interested teams like Boston are reluctant to match. A source familiar with the talks said the Cardinals have not been resistant to a contract that could reach eight years."

8 years for a 30-year-old LF in the NL seems like something that won't be a major concern until the middle of the next decade. Is that too far in the future to worry about paying a 36-year-old $18MM per year for another three years?

MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday To Boston Red Sox?

Derek Goold: Boston bid on Holliday? And other Baseball Beat Tweets | Cardinal Beat | STLtoday:

"Gammons, the Hall of Fame baseball writer, tweets:
Boston ecstatic with Lackey. Before he stepped foward, Sox offered 4x$15M to Bay and 5x$16.5 to Holliday.

Olney, a senior writer at ESPN Magazine, follows with his tweet:
Heard this: Before the Red Sox signed Lackey for $82.5 million, they offered $82.5 million to Holliday. Now they’re out on Holliday.

The search for the “mystery team” bidding on Holliday continues, with some indications that there is actually a second team courting the free-agent outfielder."

No way, no how Matt Holliday goes off the board around $80 MM. If so expect the New York Yankees to feel obligated to top that bid the same way you'd top a $15 bid for Derek Jeter in an AL-Only auction league. Just too good a value.

MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday

I can't believe the Cards would deal three more years of Ryan Ludwick in a deal for one year of Matt Holliday. And Ludwick would be just one of the pieces going back to Colorado.

Phils, Cards lead pursuit for Holliday - The Denver Post:

"O'Dowd dropped a single hint Wednesday that he might be able to get an All-Star in exchange for Holliday. Turns out that is outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who hit 37 home runs last season."

MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday

This looks like its heading down the Johan Santana pathway - a superstar who is dealt for multiple middling prospects.

"Open-minded" about trading Holliday - The Denver Post:

"Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd increased the likelihood Matt Holliday will be traded with his admission Wednesday he doesn't have to receive a proven starter in return. O'Dowd is looking for the best deal, not the best pitchers, with multiple opposing executives predicting that Philadelphia and Oakland are the most likely trade partners."

MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday

ROCKIES LOOK TO TRADE THEIR STAR LEFT FIELDER - New York Post: "The Rockies have informed teams that left fielder Matt Holliday has joined fellow NL West standout Jake Peavy of the Padres as available. An executive who speaks regularly to Colorado officials described the Rockies as very motivated to do a deal."

This means there is going to be a full-time job opening in Coors field! Right now, I'm betting Ryan Spilborghs will get a $10-$20 boost in NL-Only leagues. CF Dexter Fowler is the sexier pick.

I'd be happy to lose on Spilborghs at $20, Fowler at $15 and take a $5 flyer on Seth Smith.

MLB Trade Rumor: What Is Matt Holliday's Price?

Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus told Jeff Erickson on Fantasy Focus of the worst trade rumor he heard. The Colorado Rockies asked the Tampa Bay Rays for David Price and two other players for Matt Holliday.

There is no chance the Rays do that. As a matter of fact, one might think Chuck LaMar was in control of the Rockies.