Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan about which players they believe are the most important during the Hot Stove season.
Hot Stove season is one of my favorite times of the year. It is really going to start kicking into high gear soon since tomorrow is the first day free agents can sign contracts with new teams. With the economy the way it is, and with many teams trimming payroll, it is going to be an especially active offseason. The poor economy affected the off-season last year with many teams failing to offer arbitration to players… and I think you might see more of the same this year. That possibly means there could be some bargains out there for your favorite team. However, there’s one player out there who probably will not be a bargain because of his money-loving egotistical evil agent (Scott Boras). That player is Matt Holliday.
Now, I wrote back in July that Holliday was the guy your team needed to go get if you wanted to make a run to the postseason. I think it is safe to say the Cardinals chose wisely when acquiring Mr. Holliday. Granted, the Cards were swept in the division series by the Dodgers. And yes, he possibly cost the Cardinals game two of the series with his misplay of a fly ball. That mistake basically eliminated any chance of the Cardinals making a run this past postseason. However, that boo-boo does not overshadow the impact he had for the Cardinals. He finished the season hitting .313 with 24 home runs and 109 RBI. Even more impressive is the fact that in 63 games with the Cardinals he hit a robust .353 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI and helped the team break away from the pack in the NL Central. He provided more than adequate protection for that Pujols guy and at the same time he dismissed critics who said his previous success was because of the time he spent hitting at hitter friendly Coors Field.
As I stated earlier, Scott Boras, unfortunately, is the agent for Holliday. So he isn’t going to come cheap. He is going to do his best to cash in for his client, poor economy or not. To me Holliday is the best hitter on the free agent market so chances are good that he will succeed in getting an excessive contract. But if you have the cash flow available and have the need for a middle of the lineup bat, then Holliday is your guy. The same free spenders every year (Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, etc.) are the teams that will give him a good look. Do not rule out the Cardinals, though. He has said he enjoyed his time in St. Louis, and who wouldn’t want to hit in the same lineup with Albert Pujols?
Holliday is still young (he doesn’t turn 30 until January 15) and in the prime of his career. He is a controversy-free guy, and he is a bonafide slugger. What more could a team ask for? Hopefully, your favorite team has a chance to go after this guy. Your team will be greatly improved if it gets him The numbers back that up.
