Yardbarker: Matt Holliday

Poll Results: If you could sign just one free agent…

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:12:00 -0500

In my last poll, I asked my readers to pick a free agent to sign if they could have only one of them. The options: Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, John Lackey, Joel Pineiro, Orlando Hudson and Chone Figgins. Here are the results…Holliday and Lackey were far and away the leaders in this poll, as you can see. If you voted (or even if you didn’t), what was your reasoning for your pick? Next Poll: Do you trust Omar Minaya? [[ Home || Twitter || E-mail ]]

Matt Holliday’s Possible Destinations

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:57:03 -0500

During the baseball offseason, the man most likely to land the largest contract is none other than Matt Holliday. While Jason Bay may give him a run for his money, Holliday’s production and potential is likely to cause a team to open up their wallet — very wide. Here’s a look at possible destinations for Matt Holliday in free agency: St. Louis Cardinals Matt Holliday finished the 2009 baseball season with the St. Louis Cardinals. However, since the Cardinals aren’t in ...

Pinstriped Holliday

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:00:35 -0500

From Ken Davidoff (Newsday): Matt Holliday spoke with Jody McDonald and Rob Dibble of XM Satellite Radio yesterday. Here’s what he said about where he’d like to play and live: “I’ve been around, and I’ve lived in some big cities so I would say that I’m open to any sort of coast or city. Obviously I’ve never [...]

Blogging the Offseason: Seattle Mariners

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:22:00 -0500

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here. Today's AL team is the Seattle Mariners and our guest is Griffin from the Mariners Blog, Sodo Mojo. 1. What do the Mariners need to do this offseason to truly make them a contender for the AL West crown in 2010? They have to sign or acquire a legitimate #2 starter, fig...

With Holliday, Yanks playing the Teixeira game

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:54 -0500

From Gordon Eddes (ESPN): And while the economic landscape has changed markedly since then, the elite players have still gotten theirs. That’s why the Red Sox, while considering Matt Holliday as a potential alternative if Bay goes elsewhere, are anticipating the Holliday shopping will ultimately prove too rich for their blood. And yes, they suspect the [...]

Free Agent Buzz: Bay, Lackey, Holliday, Chapman

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:53:51 -0500

Matt Holliday is a key free agent thisoff-season Outfielder Jason Bay had until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox. To no one’s surprise, Bay didn’t budge, electing to test the market. SI.com’s John Heyman reported that the Sox offered Bay four-years, $60 million. Heyman predicted Bay to pull in around $85 million. We get the feeling that for awhile, it’s going to be all speculation. So, with that The Biz of Baseball takes a look at the free agent buzz on Bay and other top free agents: Newsday reported that the New York Mets are “Big Name Hunting.” Here’s what Newsday writer David Lennon said about the Mets plans: Despite the price, the Mets understand they can't afford to come up empty, not after three straight seasons of missing the playoffs and then watching the Yankees win the World Series this year. Other than Lackey, the only marquee names are Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, so the choices are limited. It just remains to be seen how many teams are as desperate as the Mets, who are eager for a quick fix - or at least the appearance of one. The good news is that the Yankees seem uninterested in the same players and that could keep the prices reasonable. The bad? The Red Sox are likely to be the main competition instead. St. Louis Post Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz offers solutions in negotiating with super-agent Scott Boras concerning outfielder Matt Holliday in his piece “It’s best to ignore Scott Boras’ bombast.” Miklasz says: But this isn't really about winning — unless we're talking about the real Boras goal here, which is winning the biggest jackpot. Boras wants a Mark Teixeira deal — eight years, $180 million — for Holliday. The Cardinals need to wait this out. Hold steady. There is no rush; Boras is in no hurry. Boras plans to slow-play these negotiations, calmly spinning a web until he can lure a GM or owner into his trap. Boras only needs one patsy to make this click. All it takes is one nervous GM or owner to lunge for the Boras bait. And if that one sucker steps up, Boras will exploit their interest for every last dollar. And if Boras finds a malleable dupe, someone willing to wildly overpay, then the Cardinals are out of it. The Sporting News reported that the Washington Nationals would like to take a shot at free agent pitcher John Lackey: The team's Web site reports the Nats want Lackey to be their ace and to mentor the club's young starters, such as left-handers John Lannan and Ross Detwiler and right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Washington will face stiff competition for Lackey. The Angels would like to re-sign him, and high-profile teams such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, among others, are expected to make offers. Teams other than the Angels can discuss financial terms with Lackey's agent beginning Friday. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said during the season that he would look to acquire a veteran starter this winter, and he laid out what he's looking for in a staff leader. Yahoo! Sports via the Los Angeles Times reported this week that John Lackey has a plethora of teams looking his way: Lackey supposedly wants to sign a deal worth more than $100 million and has interest from the Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and New York Yankees. Figgins is likely to sign a deal for half of that and his suitors supposedly include the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Cubs. Another source of buzz has been Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman. The left-hander was named fourth best free agent by Yahoo! Sports. As expected, the usual suspects looking in his direction. So far, the Seattle Mariners have expressed interest, as have the Boston Red Sox, while the Chicago Cubs, White Sox and Atlanta Braves have denied any interest. The Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles are also in the mix. Here are some links to stories about Chapman from the Seattle Times, MLB.com, Chicago Tribune Unfortunately for those obsessed with the Hot Stove, it seems very little will be hashed out before Santa Claus shows up. Remember, it wasn’t until Dec. 23 of last year that Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees. But, C.C. Sabathia signed on Dec. 10 and the Astros signed Carlos Lee on Nov. 24. So, even though we have no way of predicting, why not try? OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK (THE BIZ OF FOOTBALL) Tony Dungy Leads New NFL Player Advisory Forum Jon Gruden Signs Mult-Year Extension with ESPN At Midseason, NFL TV Ratings Exceptionally Strong Boise St. Engages PR Firm in Attempt to Gain BCS Game Does the NFL Salary Cap Still Work? (THE BIZ OF HOCKEY) Relocating NHL Franchises to Canada Inside the Numbers: The 2009 Forbes NHL Valuations NHLPA Votes to Create Two Committees, Approves Donald Fehr to Assist in Exec. Dir. Search The NHL Works to Address Head Hits (THE BIZ OF BASKETBALL) Despite Economy Early NBA Attendance Only Down 2% Daktronics to Provide Massive Video Display for Amway Center (SPORTS BASH) Because It's Good For You: Rob Neyer Matthew Coller is staff member of the Business of Sports Network and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter Follow The Biz of Baseballl on Twitter Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook

Head-to-Head: Jason Bay is the most appealing free-agent bat

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:10:28 -0500

In what is considered a thin free-agent class, two elite sluggers remain available: Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. Both play left field, both should sign a nine-figure deal and both can be real difference-makers. But removing the Scott Boras factor (he represents Holliday), which big bat actually is more valuable? Stan McNeal argues that Holliday is a better option, but Chris Bahr explains why Bay will provide more bang for the buck: Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Both elite sluggers are in their...

Head-to-Head: Matt Holliday is the most appealing free-agent bat

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:09:56 -0500

In what is considered a thin free-agent class, two elite sluggers remain available: Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. Both play left field, both should sign a nine-figure deal and both can be real difference-makers. But removing the Scott Boras factor (he represents Holliday), which big bat actually is more valuable? Chris Bahr argues that Bay will provide more bang for the buck, but Stan McNeal explains why Holliday is the better option: Choosing between Matt Holliday and Jason Bay is sort of li...

Does Bay's slugging outweigh his defense...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:10:00 -0500

Rob Bradford of WEEI takes a look at the market for Jayson Bay. The Mets are said to prefer Matt Holliday but they have also said they will only go so far to obtain the left fielder. If Holliday goes elsewhere then the best alternative is Jayson Bay. Bay's defense is worse then Holliday's and he hits slightly less but would that be enough for the Mets to pass. Here's Bradford's take on the Mets...Mets: You know they have money, and they also fit the model in terms of the type ...

With Angels out, market resets on Holliday

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:05:48 -0500

With the Angels supposedly out of the Matt Holliday hunt, Jon Paul Morosi says the slugger's market just reset drastically.

Pearlman To Mets : Eschew Holliday, Pursue Figgins

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:16:55 -0500

Like the rest of you, “The Bad Guys Won” author Jeff Pearlman has read speculation surrounding the Mets’ interest in free agent OF Matt Holliday, but strongly urges Omar Minaya to turn his attention in the direction of….a third-baseman? If I know the Mets (and, sadly, I know the Mets), they’ll make a major play for [...]

MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday to the Mets??

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:37 -0500

by David Zalubowski - AP about 1 month ago: St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday follows the flight of his RBI single against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game in Denver on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) View full size photo » It seems that the Mets should be involved with more names than Matt Holliday after the season they had last year. And maybe they are, bu...

holliday overload

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:36 -0500

St. Louis Cardinals Reliever Ryan Franklin enjoys an off-season snowstorm while vacationing at the War Drobe Mountain Lodge in Spare Oom, Colorado on November 8, 2009. View full size photo » just like i can't get used to christmas carols at the grocery store before thanksgiving, the MAJOR LEAGUE DRAMA of WHERE WILL HE SIGN? is starting to get goddamn old. and there's still a week left before he goes on the market....

Agent Boras says Cardinals can pay boatload of money to Holliday

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:12:25 -0500

The funniest exchange between agent and reporter at baseball's General Manager meetings probably was published this morning in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Scott Boras scoffed upon hearing the Cardinals characterized as a "mid-market" franchise, one that would be incapable of paying client Matt Holliday(notes) whatever the agent thinks he's worth."I don't know what a mid-market franchise is. That's like a midsize aircraft carrier," Boras said. Capitalizing ...

Scott Boras Gives Us a Clue on How Much Matt Holliday Will Cost

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:03:58 -0500

by Tom FornelliFiled under: Angels, Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB RumorsDuring FanHouse's marathon live chat of the ALCS and NLCS yesterday, I couldn't help but notice Scott Boras directly behind home plate as the Angels took on the Yankees in Game 3. I was informed during the chat by our own Jeff Fletcher that Boras has season tickets behind home plate at both Angels and Dodger Stadium, and he likes to show up early so he's available to the media. Well, Boras was available Mon...