Holliday Trade Analysis (or my attempt at it)

Matt Holliday was traded to the A's for starter Greg Smith, reliever Huston Street, and centerfielder Carlos Gonzalez. Although Billy Beane went into rebuilding mode the last couple seasons trading Dan Haren, Nick Swisher, Joe Blanton and others, he thinks it's time to start winning. This is all speculation by me (I think it's really good speculation though) but I believe there is reason to believe that Billy Beane thinks there is reason to believe that K-Rod and/or Teixeira won't be with the Angels next year. I'm saying more than just some rumors, that they probably most likely won't be with the Angels, making their team significantly worse. If those two players leave via free agency, with the addition of Holliday the A's have a formidable team ready to compete for the division next year. Beane didn't even give up that much for Holliday, continuing his pretty ridiculous stretch of good trades. Huston Street lost his closing job to Brad Ziegler this year, Carlos Gonzalez had a bad year in the majors this year .242/.273/.361, and Greg Smith although good was nothing special. Regardless if the A's aren't in line to make the playoffs next year in July and Holliday is traded again, they wouldn't have lost anyone that will make them cringe, making this really a no brainer trade.

As for the Rockies? I'm not sure why they made this trade. I think future trades will be following. They have Taveras at CF, and I don't think they would trade a top Leftfielder for a reliever. Street has some value left to a team like the Mets, so I guess we should hold some judgement untill all the trades are over.

In Oakland I would expect Holliday to be around .310/.380/.510, he's been .296/.370/.486 away the last 3 years so a little uptick in those numbers is reasonable. Carlos Gonzalez could blossom being that he was a legit prospect, but I wouldn't expect great numbers next year regardless of the park. Wherever Street ends up if he's healthy he should be a good closer especially if he stays in the JV league. Lastly Greg Smith worries me, he gave the A's great innings (190) for a rookie starter but with a 1.35 whip in a park that leans towards pitchers and with him now going to Colorado I wouldn't expect great future success.