A's Trade Holliday To Cardinals And Other Roster Notes

Colorado traded with Cleveland for Rafael Betancourt, according to the AP; the Rocks gave up minor league pitcher Connor Graham . As anticipated before the season started, Billy Beane traded for Matt Holliday as a midseason chit; he's been sent to St. Louis, for 3B Brett Wallace, OF Shane Peterson, and RHP Clayton Mortensen. I like this for the A's; Wallace is a grade-A offensive third base prospect, a position the A's have had trouble with ever since they ill-advisedly decided to extend the almost nonexistent and constantly injured Eric Chavez. Peterson is a former Dirtbag, and has exhibited good on-base skills with a little pop, slugging a .420-ish line, and playing at AA as a 22-year-old. Mortensen enjoys a 6.00 ERA in limited action (3.0 IP) with the Cards this year, but didn't have a good line in the higher minors before that. At one time in the lower minors he was routinely striking out ten batters per nine, but that's declined quite a bit. As for what th...