Cardinals Make A Trade For Matt Holliday 7 Days Before The Deadline

Sports Betting News - July 24th, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

The St. Louis Cardinals, who have lost 4 out of the last 8 games since the all-star break, decided to bolster their struggling lineup, trading for Oakland A's out fielder Matt Holliday, just seven days before the July 31, MLB trade deadline. The Cardinals had a 4 game lead in the National League Central before the start of the All-Star game and, now both the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros are only a game and a half behind the first place cardinals.

Just as teams started to incorporate ways to pitch around and even walk (MLB baseball season high 34 intentional walks) Albert Pujols, the Cardinals added one of baseballs most coveted bats on the trade market. Matt Holliday who was traded to the Oakland A's from the Colorado Rockies this same time last year.  Will drive to Philadelphia today to meet up with his new team and should see some action on the field tonight against the Phillies young ace J.A. Happ. Holliday has no official spot in the batting line up yet, but most critics assume he will bat 5th behind Ryan Ludwick who has found his swing again late in the season batting .360 in the last 7 games.

Matt Holliday did not start the 2009 season the way he thought he would. After spending 5 season playing with the Colorado Rockies in hitter friendly Coors Field, Matt Holiday struggled to produce for the Oakland A's lineup. Holliday's contract expires at the end of this season and he will become a free agent. The Cardinals are likely to not resign Holliday after this season, and hope that he can some how become the missing link for this years Cardinals team, helping them reach the World Series once again.

Holliday, who could not manage to find away to hit the ball in the American League, returns to the National league where he has a career batting average of .318 all with the Rockies. The Oakland A's received three minor league contracts for all-star Matt Holliday. Third baseman from class AAA Brett Wallace the 13th overall pick in last years MLB draft, Clayton Mortensen right handed pitcher from class AAA, and class AA outfielder Shane Peterson. The Oakland A's also offered to help pay Matt Holliday's 13.5 million dollar contract for the rest of the year paying up 1.5 million for the now St. Louis Cardinals out fielder. The Cardinals prove, they want to win the division yet again and get back into the playoffs with this major mid-season trade.