November 10, 2008 1:57 PM
Another all-star leaving Denver
If it's Monday, then it must be 'trade-an-All Star' day again in Denver.
Just as Allen Iverson was dealt from the Nuggets to the Detroit Pistons last week, Matt Holliday no longer is a member of the Rockies. Colorado traded Holliday to the Oakland A's in exchange for star reliever Huston Street, left-handed pitcher Greg Smith and outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez.
Unless he works out a contract extension with the A's, Holliday will be in the final year of his contract in 2009.
Now we can argue this thing out until darkness falls and the sun brings back the morning light. Time will tell who's right and who's wrong.
One one hand, trading Holliday in his prime, you expect at least one bonafide every-day player in return. You know, somebody you've heard of that's in the lineup at least 80-90 percent of the time -- not two unproven prospects and a 25-year-old reliever.
OK, so make that a pretty darn good reliever in Street. Street has 271 strikeouts with 78 walks in 269 innings pitched over 247 career appearances. He was the American League's Rookie of the Year in 2005. While he should be in line to receive a salary increase in 2009 (from $3.3 million in '08) -- but nowhere near the $13 million Holliday is scheduled to receive for the coming season.
On the other hand, if you don't believe Holliday is worth the $20-$30 million-a-year contract he might command elsewhere, then deal him for whatever you can get -- instead of being left empty-handed when he walks as a free agent.
I say get what you can and be done with it. Holliday wasn't biting at the Rockies' offers of four years with an option for year No. 5. The Rockies, still signing checks to Todd Helton at a $16 million-plus per year pace, don't want to assume the risk with Holliday.
Yes, angry Rockie Fan, I know. The Monforts are really bad men and you want them out as owners of the Rockies. They're cheap, you say. They should sell the team to someone who can afford Holliday's market value, so that Rockie Fan can enjoy a winner annually at Coors Field.
After all, he who spendeth the most almost always win the championship. Can I get an amen, Yankee Fan? Can I get a what-what, Met Fan?
Can I get an answer-answer to my question.
My question to you, Rockie Fan, is this -- what production do you expect in return from a player who is paid $20 million a year? How about 40 homers. Or 140 RBI. Gold Glove-winning defense. Is that too much to ask for $20 million, which, based on the contract, certainly will rise as the years go by.
Do you think Holliday, who turns 29 in January, is going to put up 200 homers and 600 RBI over the next five seasons? (Those, by the way, are Alex Rodriguez numbers over the past five seasons.)
You've got plenty of space to make comments below. Try not to waste it with the Monfort talk, though I know it's the easy road to take. We get it that a lot of you don't like the Monforts. Why do you keep going to the games at Coors Field if you want them gone?
Answer this question: What production do you expect in return from an every-day player who is paid $20 million or more in a year? And do you believe Holliday will post those type of numbers in the next five seasons to come?
November 10, 2008
4:55 PM
Sean writes:
You raise some great questions.
But the one that's been on my mind with this team is, what will it take to get Hurdle fired?
And why when he fired a good portion of his assistants did he not get ride of his pitching coach, the one who deserved to get fired the most?
November 10, 2008
6:18 PM
Chip writes:
Sometimes I wonder about the baseball IQ of some fans. All they want to do is spend megabucks on undeserving talent. Holliday is no Manny Ramirez or A-Rod. He had one good year and one great one. Certainly not a track record to warrant being paid what the elite get paid. Is anyone considering this - Holliday in Oakland will have pedestrian numbers, making him affordable to come back to the Rockies as a free agent next year? That is of course, if Billy Beane doesn't trade him to the Mets or Phillies in June!
November 10, 2008
8:10 PM
Pat Reilly writes:
Just confirms my worst Nightmare. The Management of the Rockies had to do their Internship at the Post Office. They could have done a whole lot better if they would have waited a little bit longer. Matt certainly would have looked good in a Yankee uniform!
I'm going to buy more Forever Stamps!
November 10, 2008
8:52 PM
James writes:
I remember feeling bad for Expos fans, and then I stopped and realized that the Rockies are the new Expos.
November 10, 2008
11:01 PM
rvt1000 writes:
IMHO....The nuggets improved themselves with their trade....
....the Rockies didn't.......
They used up a lifetimes worth of magic last year...it won't happen that way again..... The Rockies will consistently go nowhere as long as Jerry McMoron is in charge of the checkbook. Pretty sad because they have the facility and the fans (or would have the fans).
November 10, 2008
11:13 PM
Mitch Davison writes:
Nice attitude, Sam. Chip on your shoulder to start off with?
November 11, 2008
12:47 AM
DON writes:
Aren't the RMNews and the Monforts co-owners? The revenues have doubled the BUDGET for the players for several years while the younger players have been developing down on the farm. Now that Holiday and Adkins, and others, are producing......you and your partners are going to trade them away and start the money saving cycle over again. So, could we say, that in good times and in tough economic times, the Rockies are keeping the RMNews afloat? Will you publish this comment?
November 11, 2008
7:10 AM
nuggets217 writes:
Holiday is NOT worth 20 million per year. Not even close. I never went to the yard to watch Holiday. I always go to see the pitching matchup or another teams player like Ken Griffey Jr. I don't think Holiday will put up numbers that are even close to what he did in colorado. I agree the ownership are a bunch of cheapskates but to answer your question Sam, Holiday is not in the AROD -Manny category and should not be paid so.
November 11, 2008
8:32 AM
Tim writes:
I will miss Matt but I have a hard time laying all the blame on ownership this time.
As has been well documented; Matt made $12m last year and will make $13m this year. The 4 year offer was for $72m. Let's do some quick math - play 6 years of baseball ...repeat play baseball... for $107 million dollars.
To the guy making $40,000, $60,000 or $80,000 a year, it's hard to understand how the figures above aren't "enough" or "fair".
Matt represented this organization and city well and he contributions on and off the field should be rememebered and appreciated.
It's unfortunate that he did not feel that $107 million was a sufficient compensation to stay in place he said all along he wanted to be.
Good luck Matt and I hope you find your riches and happiness elsewhere.
November 11, 2008
8:43 AM
Tim writes:
I apologize for my quick(and sloppy) math - the number above should be $97m.
November 11, 2008
10:24 AM
The Smoking Man writes:
It doesn't matter...the individual numbers that Holliday would put up. Baseball is a team game. We all saw first hand what happens when you take a couple small cogs out of this machine (Fogg & Kaz)...we no longer knew how to win. What will happen if we take out the major cog? No, Holliday is not the answer by himslef, but he is a key ingrediant in what we were told we were trying to do here. And that is win titles. Can you replace a franchise icon just like that? I do not believe so. As great as Helton has been over his career, Holliday is by far the most talented player to ever wear a Rox jersey. Helton is the best 1st baseman over the past 10 years (check the nubmers)...well, Holliday can be the best overall for the next 10. And I agree, Holliday is no A-Rod. Holliday is a better hitter & a better person in the community. It's a bad move that could possibly cause some serious fan backlash. Most of my friends & family are already planning on cutting their Rockies budget at least in half, if not eliminate it all together. Me, I'm not going to buy any merchandise this year, & I'll probly cut the 20 games I normally go to down to about 2 or 3. I love cheering against the Cubs, what can I say. I just hope I don'thave to find a new favorite baseball team.
November 11, 2008
11:08 AM
Hank Davis writes:
While I have expressed my issues with the Rockies for a long time on many fronts trading Matt Holiday, talking about trading Garrett Atkins and letting Brian Fuentes go has put me over the edge..While I am angry about this trade and will no longer support the team at the box office I was thinking today about how the remaining players must feel knowing that management cares more about the almighty dollar than winning. How discouraging and demoralizing must this feel to the organization (outside of the Montfort morons). You can talk about about how this is the way it is these days (Tracy Ringolsby) but this isn't the way it is in LA, Boston, NY, Philly, Chicago etc. To say that Denver is a bush league city like Milwaukee doesn't do the city justice as is just plain an excuse and not reality! The Rockies have made horrible decisions for years now from retaining a lame manager who doesn't win to letting go of players who are the heart of the organization. Watch for many more of our star players to be gone when their contracts expire and for many funs to not support this organization.
November 11, 2008
12:23 PM
scott writes:
Perhaps Holliday will not put up the BIG numbers every year for the next 5 years, but I do believe he would, (will), be very, very close. All he does is get hits. Everytime you look in the box score he is good for 2 hits. Consistent, reliable and a good person. However, the biggest loss is going to be the chemistry and presence he brought to the team. This group of Rockies players as a unit are something special. They didn't pull it together last year, but they are a unique group that grew up together and had each other's back when it counted. They have now lost their idenity and their leader................ But at least they now know the direction the ownership is taking the team. This is just the beginning of the demise of what could have been a special team. As a pure baseball fan it is incredibly sad..................
November 11, 2008
1:49 PM
Michael writes:
I was pretty upset when I heard that the Rockies traded Holiday, but then I heard that they had offered him $18 mil/year for four years and he turned it down. Now, I actually have to applaud the Rockies.
No baseball player is worth $18 million dollars a year and Holiday isn't even the best player in baseball.
The fact that he turned this offer down tells me three things:
(1) he's beyond greedy. I know that players need to look out for their families and get the best deal they can, but turning down $18 million a year!!??!!;
(2) he is not a team player since who knows what cuts would need to be made to accomodate the $20+ million a year the Rockies would need to sign him (how the heck do you build a champion when one player demands that much money - I complain about the Monforts as much as the next guy, but not giving a guy more than $18 million a year is not being cheap - it is using your brain!)
(3) he wanted out - for whatever reason he did not want ot be hear - so I say send him packing!
I think it was a great move. We got some pitching (an area the Rockies always need help with) and a top prospect.
Now if this turns into a fire sale and Atkins isn't offered a decent deal - then my blood pressure will begin to rise!
November 13, 2008
1:40 PM
Nikki writes:
I agree with Michael in that this trade was heart wrenching for those of us who got Holliday, but I can understand the money reasoning behind it. Also I definately agree that Atkins needs to be offered a decent deal and this doesn't need to turn into a fire sale! There is no need to lose Atkins...he is the one who has continually been telling the media despite constant talks of being traded that he wants to spend his career here. He also prefers dealing in the short-term to make his contract more fair based on his production and has an agent that is a family friend from UCLA.
I can reason with getting rid of Holliday, but it will be awfully difficult to replace his numbers AND Atkins'. Garrett has been the guy flying under the radar for years and deserves a little appreciation. He was the one who played in the most games last year when practically the whole team went on the disabled list. He was versatile and moved from 1st to 3rd. Even though he had an off year by his standards, he still led the team in RBI's...and this also means that he constantly wants to improve. I understand the Helton/Stewart dilemma, but he has been the steady one who always plays the whole time he has been here. I am not sure Helton's back is completely right anyway, so who will replace him if he goes down?
He is also great with the fans...he signs at a lot of games and spent about a half hour signing before the last home game.
I see why we might have to lose Fuentes and did lose Holliday, but I don't see why we have to lose Atkins!
May 5, 2011
1:39 AM
Carreen Brown writes:
We never repent of having eaten too little. -Thomas Jefferson
May 25, 2011
4:23 PM
kays jewelry writes:
think that the creator of the show lLORRE is the man! he shut down this egotisticle money hungry charlie sheen when no one would have ever thought he would! they were pulling in so much money and he still did it .ALSOhe is a real lo life talking to anybody that will listen ,bad mouthing the cast
July 28, 2012
6:52 PM
Barney Muratalla writes:
Many thanks Thomas and Omar for reading! Share with us your cool findings about this wonderful segment of one's blog readers