Fantasy Impact: Matt Holliday Traded to St. Louis

July 24, 2009

Imagine this – Matt Holliday batting cleanup behind King Albert (Pujols).  Well, early Friday a trade sending St. Louis uber-prospect Brett Wallace (as the centerpiece in a multiprospect deal) to Oakland in exchange for 2009’s free agent prize Matt Holliday was finalized.  Along with Wallace, the Athletics net Clay Mortenson and Shane Peterson.  At the time of the trade, Holliday was hitting .286  with 11 homers and 12 steals with 54 RBI, amounting to a disappointing season for the soon-to-be big contract seeker.

For AL-only Matt Holliday owners, this trade represents a loss with no discernable immediate gain in non-keeper formats.  In keeper formats, however, the gain of Wallace hardly provides solace. At least he provides a potent future bat at the hot corner.  On the Athletics, Wallace may in fact see regular playing time as early as this season (with the loss of Eric Chavez to yet another surgery and the implosion of all third base alternatives).

In NL-only formats, and depending on league rules,   lucky fantasy GM’s may have inherited Matt Holliday for little more than a triple A, blue chip, 20+ homer prospective Big League talent.  That is not to minimize the potential in Wallace, but keeper leaguers will certainly value him more than others..at least until his recall. 

Mixed league Holliday owners may be pleased by his newfound offensive protection, sandwiched between Pujols and Ryan Ludwick in a run-producing St. Louis batting order now brandishing Rick Ankiel as it’s seven hitter.  Either way, it will be interesting to see the impact on Pujols, who rarely enjoys the protection he may now find.

No matter your league format or team loyalty, the long awaited dealing of Matt Holliday has now come and gone.  Barring a sudden collapse in fortune by St. Louis, that leaves some other big named talents still on the market.  Namely – Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and George Sherrill.  Tune in for future editions of Fantasy Impact, following noteworthy fantasy trades.

Written by Russ · Filed Under Player News | Leave a Comment 

The Five Guys You Meet in Every League (Part 2 of 3)

July 24, 2009

Welcome to the second of a three part series examining fantasy baseball owner stereotypes. In the first installment we looked at the Pick-up Artist.  We now turn to the Invisible Man and the Rookie. Read more

Written by Oren Margulies · Filed Under Miscellaneous | 1 Comment