Holliday to the A's: A Fantasy Perspective
Well, the first big trade of the offseason is now official, so let's take a look at how it will effect both teams. Starting with the A's:
Matt Holliday: Oakland gets itself their first real offensive threat since Giambi and Tejada left town. Holliday has put up MVP-type numbers the past two seasons, and he should do well in Oakland. Many question his ability to continue putting up these types of numbers outside of the friendly confines of Coors Field where he has clearly been better, but I think Holliday will be able to hit well in his new surroundings and give the A's some much needed offense. There has also been rampant speculation already that if Oakland is unable to compete that they will turn around and trade Holliday right before the trade deadline and likely get a better package in return for him then when some team will be desperate for Holliday's production. It seems like a no lose situation for Oakland. They get Holliday and win, they try to make the playoffs and advance; they don't win, they turn around and trade him for a better package of players then they gave up. Looks like Billy Beane pulled off another great deal.
Huston Street: Street goes from Oakland to Colorado and as of now will be penciled in as their closer with the loss of Brian Fuentes to free agency. However, Street's star has certainly dimmed over the last year or so as he has encountered arm problems as well as ineffectiveness. Street's ERA was 3.73 which is absolutely awful for a closer, and he saved only 18 games while blowing seven saves. What is that percentage? Just better than two-thirds successful? That is terrible. However, there has also been a ton of speculation that Street won't throw one pitch for the Rockies. I've been hearing that the Rockies are going to look to trade Street to some team (the Mets perhaps) that are looking for a closer and don't want to pay the extraordinary dollars and years that it will take to lock up Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes. Street is still just 25, but if Billy Beane traded a 25 year old closer who makes just over $3 million, that throws up a huge red flag in my mind. That is the kind of guy he usually trades FOR. No matter where Street ends up, it is almost impossible to think he won't be closing games this year, so fantasy owners can just hope it is with a decent team.
Greg Smith: After getting off to a pretty good start, Smith ended up having a pretty bad year statistically, going 7-16 with an ERA over 4.00. Even worse was his strikeout to walk ratio as he struck out 111 and walked 87 which is terrible. He did prove to be a valuable source of innings as he threw 190 as a rookie, but in my opinion just throwing innings isn't valuable. If you are throwing that many innings but you aren't giving your team valuable production, what good is it? Smith might get a look in the Rockies rotation, but they do have some young guys who deserve a shot too, so watch to see what Smith's role might be.
Carlos Gonzalez: If you don't know this guy yet, by the middle of the season you will. Gonzalez was the main piece of the Danny Haren trade and he is a stud in the making. I'm actually kind of surprised Beane traded him, but you've got to give up something to get a superstar like Holliday. Gonzalez didn't show the power that was expected of him, as he only hit four homers in his 85 games in the majors, but he is still young. He did pound out 20+ homers in the minor leagues so the power is there. You would think he would be penciled in as either the centerfielder or he will take over in left for Holliday, but I believe that Gonzalez will be in the starting lineup for the Rockies when they open the season. Keeper league players, get to know this guy's name....he should be great.
Your comments and questions are always welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee a response within 18 hours. Click here to visit my site.
Matt Holliday: Oakland gets itself their first real offensive threat since Giambi and Tejada left town. Holliday has put up MVP-type numbers the past two seasons, and he should do well in Oakland. Many question his ability to continue putting up these types of numbers outside of the friendly confines of Coors Field where he has clearly been better, but I think Holliday will be able to hit well in his new surroundings and give the A's some much needed offense. There has also been rampant speculation already that if Oakland is unable to compete that they will turn around and trade Holliday right before the trade deadline and likely get a better package in return for him then when some team will be desperate for Holliday's production. It seems like a no lose situation for Oakland. They get Holliday and win, they try to make the playoffs and advance; they don't win, they turn around and trade him for a better package of players then they gave up. Looks like Billy Beane pulled off another great deal.
Huston Street: Street goes from Oakland to Colorado and as of now will be penciled in as their closer with the loss of Brian Fuentes to free agency. However, Street's star has certainly dimmed over the last year or so as he has encountered arm problems as well as ineffectiveness. Street's ERA was 3.73 which is absolutely awful for a closer, and he saved only 18 games while blowing seven saves. What is that percentage? Just better than two-thirds successful? That is terrible. However, there has also been a ton of speculation that Street won't throw one pitch for the Rockies. I've been hearing that the Rockies are going to look to trade Street to some team (the Mets perhaps) that are looking for a closer and don't want to pay the extraordinary dollars and years that it will take to lock up Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes. Street is still just 25, but if Billy Beane traded a 25 year old closer who makes just over $3 million, that throws up a huge red flag in my mind. That is the kind of guy he usually trades FOR. No matter where Street ends up, it is almost impossible to think he won't be closing games this year, so fantasy owners can just hope it is with a decent team.
Greg Smith: After getting off to a pretty good start, Smith ended up having a pretty bad year statistically, going 7-16 with an ERA over 4.00. Even worse was his strikeout to walk ratio as he struck out 111 and walked 87 which is terrible. He did prove to be a valuable source of innings as he threw 190 as a rookie, but in my opinion just throwing innings isn't valuable. If you are throwing that many innings but you aren't giving your team valuable production, what good is it? Smith might get a look in the Rockies rotation, but they do have some young guys who deserve a shot too, so watch to see what Smith's role might be.
Carlos Gonzalez: If you don't know this guy yet, by the middle of the season you will. Gonzalez was the main piece of the Danny Haren trade and he is a stud in the making. I'm actually kind of surprised Beane traded him, but you've got to give up something to get a superstar like Holliday. Gonzalez didn't show the power that was expected of him, as he only hit four homers in his 85 games in the majors, but he is still young. He did pound out 20+ homers in the minor leagues so the power is there. You would think he would be penciled in as either the centerfielder or he will take over in left for Holliday, but I believe that Gonzalez will be in the starting lineup for the Rockies when they open the season. Keeper league players, get to know this guy's name....he should be great.
Your comments and questions are always welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee a response within 18 hours. Click here to visit my site.
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