I like Holliday, but given he’s an FA after the season, doesn’t sending CarGon, Street and Smith seem like overkill? I understand Street’s lowered value, and Smith was durable but not exciting, but CarGon had some strong potential to hold down an outfield spot for some time. I’m interested to see if this is the last we hear of it.

I found smith very exciting actually. I did. Could be just me. But I think he was overpaid. If the A’s were sure to have him for say..the next 4 years or so..i wouldn’t think so as much but for someone who will be a FA..I don’t like the deal

That LarrysWeightLoss.com ad is a tad too revealing

"Holliday is slated to earn $13.5 million this season and can become a free agent after the 2009 World Series. Prior to the start of this past season, the Rockies offered Holliday an $85 million deal over five years that included four years guaranteed at $65 million.

But Holliday, who is a client of agent Scott Boras, turned down the offer."

Source: Barry M. Bloom, OaklandAthletics.com

I am lost for words. Two sandwich picks don’t equal a known prospect like CarGo do they??

if we ARE increasing Payroll to 80 Million, and signing say, Furcal and maybe Giambi.

I’m not sure what to think of this one yet.

Even out of Coors, Holliday’s still a pretty solid hitter. He did play in a division that had Dodger Stadium, Petco Park and AT&T Park. The cost to keep him is going to be high and I wouldn’t be surprised if the A’s either traded him at the deadline (even if they say they won’t now) or let him walk for the draft picks at the end of the year.

Giving up Smith? No big deal. Decent pitcher but the A’s have a system loaded with good pitching.

Giving up Street? Also no big deal. Closers aren’t hard to find and while I liked Street, the A’s can do well with Joey Devine and/or Brad Ziegler at the end of the game, though I’d say Devine has the better stuff. Ziegler works best in high-pressure situations where a ground ball is needed.

Giving up Gonzalez? This is one where time will tell if it’s a good move or not. He had his moments in the Majors but I think he needs a little more time in the Minors first. He didn’t walk very much and while his defense is excellent it seems the A’s don’t quite think he’s ready yet and don’t have the patience to wait and see.

Holliday’s name had come up for the A’s before but I didn’t think they’d make a move to get him unless they were going to try to contend with him (or extend him).

I hate this deal. No matter how you shake it out, unless we sign him to a long term deal, we gave up 3 major leaguers for a 1 year rental.

Im shocked. Theres just no way this deal gets done without extending Holiday. I Guess thats means Beane thinks Sweeneys our CFer of the future. Buck in LF and Cunningham in RF.

I’m just going to be a A’s fan for a moment and say YES! It’s been a long time since the A’s brought in someone this good. Can I dare to dream they’ll re-sign him. Hooray for the magic Beane and go A’s

CarGon is Beane’s least favorite type of player, stylistically. Horrible K to walk ratio and already old enough to suggest that that’s the type of player he’ll always be. If the A’s waited another year, CarGon’s value might be half of what it is right now. It’s somewhat of a gamble, but it’s an educated gamble.

Next spring was probably going to be awkward: CarGon not wanting to return to Sacramento, and the team wanting him to. This helps avoid that.

The fact that CarGon was in the initial package speaks volumes about the team’s feeling about him. It’s not like he was reluctantly thrown in.

Greg Smith’s value has already peaked. Perfect time to trade him.

Street was going to be dealt at some point – might as well acquire a great hitter for him. Plus, it cleans up some of the confusion in the bullpen entering spring. Roles can be more clearly defined now.

This is a trade that will have at least slightly positive effects on chemistry, because it makes several guys’ roles more clearly defined.

As for Holliday…

With apologies to Adrian Beltre, the A’s just acquired, unquestionably, the best offensive player on the ‘10 FA market. And unlike many special hitters, Holiday is an excellent defender, too. And the current mindset of the A’s is clearly to prioritize defense. Plus, he hits from the right side.

This also might help the team sign Jason Giambi or (less likely in my mind) Furcal, because it makes a very positive statement to them.

It also gives the team an alibi NOT to sign them, if the money isn’t right or if neither player wants to come here.

Awesome move. Builds excitement, makes the team less dependent on the unpredictable FA market, makes the team more attractive to potential FAs, solves a few positional question marks.

Probably where you stand on this deal depends upon your opinion of CarGon’s potential. I love the deal, and not coincidentally, I look at CarGon and see horrible plate discipline. Other people see much more.

But potential and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee.

Have so many been down on so much for so little reason.

Holliday is a proven young stud. Cargon, and Smith are not proven and Street, unfortunately, may be proven but not a stud. Cargon could be one though definitely has NOT shown it, and Smith is a future good #4.

We have several good relievers and a rotation full of #4 starters. Now, I’d love to see a real SS and a top of the line pitcher as badly as anyone else, and they could yet be acquired this year. Note, we did not give up any stud SS or SP.

But what is the #1 problem on this team? Oh, yeah . . . THEY CAN’T HIT and THEY DON’T SPEND MONEY. BB changed both of those things in one stroke.

What’s not to like?

What a blockbuster deal. I’m still reeling.

We traded a crappy starter, a diminishing closer and a legit prospect/starter and get the best bat in the game! YAY for BB to pull off another monster trade. Now let’s keep him around!

Sweet.

is a solid offer for Holliday if you also consider the two first round draft picks the A’s would get if they can’t sign Holliday

1. It makes way more sense to use an OPS+ type measure that combines home/road stats than to just look at his road stats, where there is a bigger split that one would expect. Unless there is some good reason to think that he would have much higher than expected splits, it’s safer to assume that it’s more or less random.

2. His splits have basically converged for his whole career, and his .805 or whatever it is career road ops mostly has to do with him being pretty bad on the road in 2004 and 2005.

If CarGon goes in for a secret surgery today…similar to Greg Smith’s unknown surgery…and how nobody knew why Street lost velocity on his fastball in the middle of the season because of a hushed groin problem.

Although I can see the intelligence, and really do think the A’s can extend him. I’m wary of giving big contracts to corner outfielders anyways.

I’m still in shell shock.

with the rapid fire comments, etc.
I wish it was about a happier topic though. I REALLY don’t like this trade.