Matt Holliday Traded to Cardinals, Magnificent in Debut

Cardinals, was inserted into the lineup, and went 4-5 at the plate. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)" title="Matt Holliday" width="369" height="349" />

The players couldn't wait for his arrival, and he couldn't wait to arrive. Matt Holliday jumped on a train and joined the St. Louis Cardinals, was inserted into the lineup, and went 4-5 at the plate. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Matt Holliday picked a good time to go on a hot streak. Over the first three months of the season, he batted an underwhelming .270 with only eight home-runs, but in July he has reverted back to his Colorado Rockies days, hitting .331 with a .400 on-base percentage, three home-runs, fourteen rbi’s, and 14 runs scored for the Oakland Athletics. Because of his breakout performance in the last 20 games, his trade stock skyrocketed.

Knowing General Manager Billy Beane, the Athletics weren’t about to let him walk at season’s end, so there was a great chance he would be dealt whether he was hot or not. So, Holliday’s stellar month at the plate not only paid dividends for himself, but for the Athletics, a team stocking for the future.

The St. Louis Cardinals desperately needed a bat to protect the best hitter in the game, Albert Pujols. For a majority of the season, it was Ryan Ludwick slotted behind Pujols, which didn’t scare the opposition.

Ludwick has hit well of late, but still hasn’t kept pitchers from pitching around Pujols. So, the Cardinals needed someone of Holliday’s caliber who could be had easily for the right price.

The Cardinals lead the National League Central, but there are three teams–the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Milwaukee Brewers–breathing down their neck. The leave these contenders in the dust, a move of this magnitude had to be made.

If not, they would be in a fight until the end with each, and may end up on the outside looking in. The deal meant giving up three terrific talents, headlined by their second-ranked prospect, third-baseman Brett Wallace, but it was definitely worth doing.

St. Louis was hesitant to trade Wallace at the beginning of their discussions with the A’s for good reason. The 22-year old Wallace, a powerful slugger, spent time with Springfield, their Double-A affiliate, and Triple-A Memphis, and combined to bat .287 with eleven home-runs.

Not startling statistics, but his power frame (he’s 6′2″, 235 pounds), his plate discipline, and of course his potential, caught Beane’s eye. To Beane, it was either include him or no deal. So, after balking for a time, the Cardinals anted up and packaged him along with outfielder Shane Peterson and pitcher Clayton Mortensen.

Peterson, with some more seasoning in the minor leagues, could be part of the A’s future outfield. He’s doesn’t excel in any particular area offensively, but he’s a solid hitter who hits for average and can hit the longball as well as steal some bases.

With the reputation the A’s minor league system has for producing major league talent, Peterson should find his way on the big club in the next few years.

Mortensen is the project of the three players the Athletics received in return for Holliday. He made his debut in the major leagues earlier this month, but though reaching the majors speaks for how much talent he possesses, he’s still a ways away from sticking for good.

He struggled at every level in the minors, getting worse as he went along, but if the Cardinals thought enough of him to call him up, the A’s will certainly give him a chance in the coming years.

Oakland was in New York set to take on the Yankees when the deal went down. Holliday, upon hearing the news, immediately took the train to Philadelphia, met the coaches and teammates, then suited up and made his debut. The Cardinals inserted him into the starting lineup, batting fourth, playing left-field.

He made an impact right away. He hit the second pitch of the second inning slowly to third baseman Pedro Feliz for an infield single, then stole second base. In the sixth inning, he squibbed a cue-shot into shallow right-field for his second hit, driving in a run.

In the eighth frame, after Pujols was unintentionally intentionally walked, Holliday made Phillies reliever Tyler Walker pay, providing the protection the Cardinals traded for, lacing a double to center-field. In the following inning, he capped his magnificent night at the plate with a leadoff single.

After the game, Holliday had this to say about his four-hit debut: “Yeah, I was lucky, but I’ll take ‘em. I’ll take ‘em all.”

The Cardinals will take them as well, and hope they keep on coming.