Report: Phillies A Logical Fit For Holliday
He says “multiple opposing executives” see the Phils and Athletics as the most likely trade partners. Then he writes that the Rockies are “open-minded to anything.”
Holliday would be the chrome rim upgrade on the car you’ve worked 10 years to perfect. Would the car stop traffic? Sure. Would it divert attention from the rest of the body? Probably. Is it really, really necessary? No. But it’s an attractive idea, for sure, to add the 2007 MVP runner-up to an already strong lineup, if Pat Burrell were to exit.
As I wrote before, however, Holliday is a one-year rental. There’s little reason to think the Phils can re-sign Holliday after 2009, considering possible long-term deals to Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard and others. That is, unless, the Phils decide to completely blow up the payroll and balloon into the $150M range. Currently the Phils are at about $100M and look to raise to about $130M by the end of the offseason.
The other sticking point is what Holliday would cost in a trade. The Rockies want pitching, and they’ve asked for JA Happ and Carlos Carrasco before. Now it may take just one of those pitchers, plus another high-ranking prospect. Is that worth the upgrade?
