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I did not see this coming. Seems to be a very unusual move for Billy Beane.

Well, I gotta admit - This trade was pretty much under the radar until it went down. In recent days, I didn't hear or see one thing about the A's working to get Holliday. It could work out well for both sides. The Rockies are in need of a good closer now that Fuentes is on the market. The A's could use another outfielder and one that is more experienced to help the young core of players they have now. The Bay area is one of Holliday's better stops away from Coors, so the climate there may be less of an impact on his hitting ability. (Of course, it could also be SF's pitching after Linecum) I guess we'll find out next year!

Is

Is...anyone else thinking that Holliday, a .280 career hitter with pedestrian .348 OBP, .455 Slg and .803 OPS numbers away from the friendly confines of Coors might be exposed as yet another Coors Field imposter? And this in his walk year...

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 07:18 AM ET  11.11 by CardsFan2

I did not see this coming. Seems to be a very unusual move for Billy Beane.

Agreed.

Not sure why the A's would trade the better parts of the Dan Haren deal away for a rental player, but if Holliday leaves after the season, the A's get 2 picks, if they are not in contention, he will be one of the most sought after guys on the trade market. Still not sure why the A's would make the deal though, they aren't exactly one bat away from contention.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:53 AM ET  11.11 by RaiderDave

Not sure why the A's would trade the better parts of the Dan Haren deal away for a rental player

Beane and his team are pretty shrewd evaluators of talent. Maybe they don't see those parts as being the better ones of the deal. Or, maybe, not as good as others might. Sell high.

Yeah this one came out of left field. Not sure if this makes a lot of sense but with Beane I tend to not argue with the moves he makes.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 10:14 AM ET  11.11 by SlinkyRedfoot

Beane and his team are pretty shrewd evaluators of talent. Maybe they don't see those parts as being the better ones of the deal. Or, maybe, not as good as others might. Sell high.

great point. Beane always seems to be 2 steps ahead of other GM's. At best he gets a motivated hitter in his walk year and then the 2 picks when he signs elsewhere. At worst, if the A's are out of contention he sheds the salary at the trade deadline for the equilivalant or a little less of what he orginally traded. Seems like a great example of thinking outside the box and maximizing your assets.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:57 AM ET  11.11 by Reason in Philly?

great point. Beane always seems to be 2 steps ahead of other GM's. At best he gets a motivated hitter in his walk year and then the 2 picks when he signs elsewhere. At worst, if the A's are out of contention he sheds the salary at the trade deadline for the equilivalant or a little less of what he orginally traded. Seems like a great example of thinking outside the box and maximizing your assets.

Either Beane knows something about the A's team that we don't and are about to make a miracle run to win the AL West, he wants those 2 draft picks when Holliday becomes a free agent or he wants to trade him at the deadline. Either way I do not see this as a bad move because Beane does not make many of them.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:57 AM ET  11.11 by Reason in Philly?

great point. Beane always seems to be 2 steps ahead of other GM's. At best he gets a motivated hitter in his walk year and then the 2 picks when he signs elsewhere. At worst, if the A's are out of contention he sheds the salary at the trade deadline for the equilivalant or a little less of what he orginally traded. Seems like a great example of thinking outside the box and maximizing your assets.

I agree. Of all the teams, I still cannot believe A's took him. whoa.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 11:41 AM ET  11.11 by bCColtrinari

Either Beane knows something about the A's team that we don't and are about to make a miracle run to win the AL West, he wants those 2 draft picks when Holliday becomes a free agent or he wants to trade him at the deadline. Either way I do not see this as a bad move because Beane does not make many of them.

Agreed. Hello bc.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:41 AM ET  11.11 by Hardball Is Back!

Is...anyone else thinking that Holliday, a .280 career hitter with pedestrian .348 OBP, .455 Slg and .803 OPS numbers away from the friendly confines of Coors might be exposed as yet another Coors Field imposter? And this in his walk year...

No. Matt Holliday is a great baseball player. Anybody that thinks that he won't do well in another environment doesn't watch baseball.

I hadn't heard one word of this before 12:30 Mountain Time yesterday, which was when the story broke, and I've followed this story as closely as anybody. It really surprised me. Word is that the Rockies are looking to trade Street, which is too bad, because I think that he would be a much better option than Manny Corpas closing games. I wouldn't be surprised to see Street go to the Padres as part of a deal to get Jake Peavy to Chicago. He could be the Hoffman replacement.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 03:24 PM ET  11.11 by wtnelson = Big Chief

I hadn't heard one word of this before 12:30 Mountain Time yesterday, which was when the story broke, and I've followed this story as closely as anybody. It really surprised me. Word is that the Rockies are looking to trade Street, which is too bad, because I think that he would be a much better option than Manny Corpas closing games. I wouldn't be surprised to see Street go to the Padres as part of a deal to get Jake Peavy to Chicago. He could be the Hoffman replacement.

I saw the same thing about Street being moved, but I can't see him going to SD since they are looking to shed all payroll (i.e. trade Peavy, not resign Hoffman, eventually move Greene and maybe Giles). Unless they can involve a 4th team or move him on a la the Rockies, I can't see them taking on an arbitration eligible pitcher likely to get a nice raise.

Can you say 150 walks this year?

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 04:04 PM ET  11.11 by Reason in Philly?

I saw the same thing about Street being moved, but I can't see him going to SD since they are looking to shed all payroll (i.e. trade Peavy, not resign Hoffman, eventually move Greene and maybe Giles). Unless they can involve a 4th team or move him on a la the Rockies, I can't see them taking on an arbitration eligible pitcher likely to get a nice raise.

That makes sense. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 03:24 PM ET  11.11 by wtnelson = Big Chief

I hadn't heard one word of this before 12:30 Mountain Time yesterday, which was when the story broke, and I've followed this story as closely as anybody. It really surprised me. Word is that the Rockies are looking to trade Street, which is too bad, because I think that he would be a much better option than Manny Corpas closing games. I wouldn't be surprised to see Street go to the Padres as part of a deal to get Jake Peavy to Chicago. He could be the Hoffman replacement.

Yeah I've heard also that the Rockies might look to flip Street to someone else. Not that they need it or would try to but I always liked the guy and it would be sweet if the Yankees tried to trade for him. Granted that will never happen.

Blah, Blah, Blah... they will have Holiday for 1 year. Angels will take the West and Rays, Red Sox, Yankees will battle it out for the East and Wild Card. This is a story... but the real story is will his value go down next off-season due to so many walks and lack of HRs / RBIs???

Everybody screws up eventually. This may be the one for Beane. It's either this one or the players he took in the Haren deal. Time will tell which time he screwed up. If he was screwed by the Haren deal, nice recovery Billy.