This trade doesn’t make sense to me. I read somewhere that Duncan is going to be ready for Spring Training. Are we really going to trade a solid OF defender and keep Duncan? I hate nepotism. This type of bs, along with trading for “proven” talent, per yesterday’s thread is why there is so much dislike toward TLR/Dunc. I’d like to add more, but duty calls, there’s a diaper that needs a changin’…

I really hope that the Cardinals get something besides Holliday back in this deal if we’re giving up 2 OF and a starter. Tulowitski would be ideal, but unrealistic. Maybe a Clint Barmes or Ian Stewart or Jonathan Herrera or Steven Register or Corey Wimberly.

I do not believe it would be worth Skip, Boggs, and Luddy for just Holliday…unless we know he is 100% healthy, we know Luddy was a one-year wonder (somehow), and we get Holliday signed cheaply for the next 4-5 years. Those are too many "if"s.

if ludwick doesn’t somehow fetch us a middle infielder – whether in the holliday deal, or separate – we’ve missed the boat.

it’s almost impossible to believe that there’s not an exceptional SS or 2B out there to be gotten for an All-Star outfielder. and they’re much harder to come by.

- Rollins & Eaton to StL
- Ludwick, Schumaker & Boggs to Colo.
- Holliday to Phila.

Is this a real idea or just a fake one?

Look at this and the Kelly Johnson rumor from Mo’s point of view. First, the Ludwick-Johnson rumor was floated out there and shot down as too little for someone as valuable as Ludwick. Ankiel was thrown out as a possibility as well. Teams now know that both are available, but not for just anything.

Next, a straight trade of Holliday-Ludwick rumor was sent out there, with an update of Ludwick + others. The + others is probably Colorado’s negotiating position that Holliday is available but not for just straight up. Mo has updated Luddy’s trade value from Kelly Johnson to Matt Holliday level. Not bad for business.

This says everything I’ve been toiling over for the past several days.

Um forgive me, but even if I didn’t have a problem with the talent exchange in that trade, I have a huge problem with Holliday’s $13.5M contract. I know that Luddy is near arbitration eligible and Skippy has been in the bigs for a few years, but we are simply giving up to many cost controled player-years for Holliday.

I’m in agreement with Chuck, but I’d like to add we should fill holes with cost-controlled player even if we have to take a slight risk or slightly lesser talent. If you are goning to trade for a guy who’s contract is near-market price, you might as well find a free agent.

if they could somehow sneak Kennedy into there. That would be one of the few ways that I might feel good about this trade. If they took that 4 million off our hands, that would slightly help minimize the damage Holliday’s contract is doing. I would much rather see the cheaper Brandon Ryan have Kennedy’s roster spot (not to mention that he wants to be traded).

The best way to prove a point IMO.

And, Manning as the only lefty is scary. And not the good kind of scary.

Is that really such a bad idea?

If nothing else, if Ludwick fades, you’re on the hook for a relatively small amount. If Holiday fades – or more likely rides off into Bora’sunset, the Cards are left holding an empty and expensive bag. . .

A lot of people including our VEB bloggers and readers (including me) have strongly been against acquiring Matt Holliday from the Rockies. But I have learned that acquiring Matt Holliday is just Phase 1 of the plan.

Phase 1: Trade for Matt Holliday
Phase 2: ?????
Phase 3: Ten straight Cardinals world championships

So as we all can see now, this truly is a deal Mo needs to make immediately. Please don’t let the Gnomes know I told everyone this.

the package of players was what we were led to believe. However, it was not offered by the Cards, but rather asked for by Colorado. Rosenthal had the players right but seemed to suggest that the Cards had offered those 3 players. Mo decided to call and ask about Holliday and, it seems to me, said no when the price got too high.

I still think it was worthy discussion and, ultimately, Mo made the right call. Good job, Mo.

E-mailed this to me this morning:

Holliday To Cards Dead?
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who admitted the idea of a Matt Holliday trade is dead. The Rockies sought Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker, and Mitchell Boggs from the Cards, and talks hit a wall.

The A’s may still be in play, while Ringolsby says the Phillies did not discuss Holliday with the Rox during the GM meetings. The Phils are unwilling to part with Shane Victorino. Ringolsby adds that the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees have expressed interest in Holliday. Joe Strauss recently said the Mets are in pursuit, and Bill Ladson had him as a Nationals target.

Are we really that much better off with Hudson than Lopez?

This is assuming that Lopez will play for the Birds like he did when he showed up near the end of 08.

So it doesn’t really matter anymore, thank heavens.

Apparently the A’s are trading away Greg Smith, Huston Street and Carlos Gonzalez. If they traded that much young talent along with a proven closer for a one year rental, i shudder to think about how much we could have gotten for trading Ludwick to Oakland. I have long advocated getting Mark Ellis in a deal. We could have packaged a trade with Ludwick for Mark Ellis, Huston Street, Greg Smith and possibly another good prospect. Our offense wouldn’t have taken much of a hit because Ankiel projects to improve next year while Ludwick declines. Also we would be able to get nearly the same power production with duncan, mather and rasmus getting luddy’s at bats. Our second base position would vastly improve with Ellis, who in addintion to having the fourth highest fielding percentage of any second baseman in the history of the game, in 07 slugged 19 homers and in 05 had an ops in the mid .800’s. Our pitching would improve enourmously with the simple acquisition of Greg Smith and Huston Street. Huston Street would give us an established, reliable closer for just one year to allow for the development of Perez and Motte. Greg Smith had a very good year last year despite the just a 7 and 16 record had a 4.16 era and held opponents to a .243 batting average. This would have been a great move to improve our team by only giving up one player and without inflating our payroll. Then if we really wanted to we could sign holiday in 2110 if one of our outfielders isn’t getting the job done.