Buzz: Manuel likes Matt Holliday, Who Doesn’t
In a report for the Denver Post, Troy E. Renck cites a column in Newsday that quoted Jerry Manuel as saying he would certainly accept Rockies OF Matt Holliday in to the mix at Shea Stadium, were the Mets ever fortunate enough to trade for him.
Meanwhile, according to Jon Heyman at SI.com, there is a 3–to-1 chance that the Rockies even trade Holliday, adding, “While he isn’t repeating his MVP-caliber season of a year ago, his availability would still create a feeding frenzy.”
From what I can gather, the Rockies are not necessarily looking for a package like the Braves gave Texas for Mark Teixeira, i.e., four or five prospects. Instead, the Rockies want the absolute-best possible prospect they can find, preferably a pitcher, who is ready to go, highly-touted and under contract.
For instance, the buzz from Florida is that if the Rays intend to acquire Holliday, they’ll need to part with RHP David Price, who is considered to be the best pitching prospect in the game.
The sense I get is that the Rockies can make such a huge demand, because they do not have to trade Holliday right now. Much like Texas with Teixeira at the time, Holliday is under contract next season.
By the way, the Rockies, who made the post-season last year, are just seven games out of first place in a weak division. They could certainly keep Holliday for now, try to make a run, while keeping their fans engaged, and then look to trade him in the off-season when they can create a much larger market for his services. For what it’s worth, the Rockies came from seven games back to win their division last season.
Therefore, if the Mets want Holliday right now, my hunch is that it would cost them a pitcher like Mike Pelfrey, while being able to keep Fernando Martinez. I do not think a package including Martinez, pitching prospects like Jon Niese or Eddie Kunz, or even Aaron Heilman, will get it done.
By the way, in his report for SI.com, Heyman also sets on odds for Braves 1B Mark Teixeira, A’s RHP Huston Street, Jays RHP AJ Burnett and Pirates OF Jason Bay, among other names you likely hear in the weeks before the July 31 Trade Deadline.
