Davidoff: Holliday Wants New York
By Mike Silva ~ October 18th, 2009. Filed under: Offseason Speculation.
According to Ken Davidoff Matt Holliday’s top two choices this offseason are 1) Yankees and 2) Mets.
An anonymous agent told Jon Heyman that Holliday would command 7 years and $150 million dollars last month. That is a lot of dough for someone who spent a large part of his career in Colorado and has a 20 point drop career drop in OPS on the road versus home. His 1.000 plus OPS in St. Louis makes me feel better, but no way I give Holliday that type of money in terms of years and dollars.
We know the Yankees could afford Holliday and they have an opening in left field with Johnny Damon’s pending free agency. There have been rumblings that Yankee minority owners are putting the squeeze on the Steinbrenner family to produced dividends after years of seeing no profit. Remember, there is about $50 million (according to my calculation from Cot’s) of money coming off the Yankees books. It’s more than enough to offer Holliday $20 million per year. With long term deals to A-Rod, Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira would the Yanks go seven years with Holliday? Maybe five but they did go above and beyond for Teixeira. If the Red Sox somehow get involved it might make that likely. With the inexpensive young arms for the bullpen and backend of the rotation the Yankees don’t need to plug tons of holes. You could sign Holliday, improve an already vaunted offense, and call it an offseason save a few minor moves. Could you imagine Teixeira, Holliday, and A-Rod middle of the order? Geez.
The Mets have the more urgent need for a bat like Holliday. With him patrolling left field you can bring in a right handed complement to Murphy at first, give Ike Davis the year at AAA, and live with Jeff Francouer’s warts in right. Despite the concerns over Holliday’s performance on the road he is every bit the hitter that Carlos Delgado was since 2006. That might be enough (along with health) to get the Mets offense back to 2008 levels. The problem is how much stomach do the Mets have to get involved with the big boys? The Mets have never outbid the Yankees head to head so they would be trying to make history if Cashman and company provide competition for Holliday’s services. The other problem is Citi Field’s reputation, which is overblown, but hitters can only go by what they see (Wright’s numbers) and hear (players gripes i.e. Chipper Jones), so this might be a problem. Of course money always trumps minor concerns such as the ballpark one would call home.
I doubt Holliday would get 7 years $150 million unless the Yankees and Sox go head to head on him. I can’t think of another team that will blow him out of the water. That was the only reason Teixeira reached the $180 million mark. The Mets must hope the Yankees bow out, but even if they do, Boston and the Green Monster are looming. If he comes in around 5 years $100 million I think the Mets have a shot, anything more would indicate Yankee interest and scare Team Wilpon away.
Holliday is the type of consistent bat the Mets need. If money were no object this isn’t even a discussion, but I don’t want Holliday to prevent them from taking the steps necessary to improve the bullpen, rotation, and bench. You shouldn’t have to have this problem when you play in a new ballpark in New York, but Mets ownership’s myopic approach to the game has created the reality.
As for the Yankees, if they can afford Holliday, why not go for it? He would improve an offense that already scored 900 runs.
October 18th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
The Mets have outbid the Yankees head to head for players. An example is Beltran. One can also argue that they did the same for Santana and KRod. There have been some others as well.
October 18th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
The Beltran scenario is iffy since Beltran allegedly offered his services to the Yanks for less money. There really wasn’t any bidding, Yanks just decided to pass. Santana they passed, and K-Rod they never got involved. I can’t remember a time they went after a player strong head to head.
October 18th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Yankees have an outstanding prospect, Austin Jackson waiting in the wings. No need for Holliday.
October 18th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Holliday knows that NY is a far friendlier environment to play than St. Louis. Pfft, yeah right.
Anyone who chooses to go to NY is all about the money, that’s why both NY teams spend all that money and still lose the majority of the time. They bring together selfish players in place of putting together a team.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Pepe,
Interesting sentiments but very far off. Players come to NY so they can have a chance to participate in the offseason every year. Seems like the other towns have owners who are too busy not investing in the team and the fans are far too busy chasing college football and high school football teams. Maybe if you guys showed up to the games you’d have better teams. Also, you guys are all very quick to accuse people of going places for the money. In some cases this is true, but mostly they come here because it raises their careers to the next level. Let’s face facts NY is the Big Leagues and the rest of the country is the minor leagues.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
LOL, participate ini the offseason every year? How did that work out for the Mets this year and the Yankees last year. You just proved my point thank you. Teams win more often than a group of egotistical players, period.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
As critical as I am being of you, I must say it was a good read though. I just disagree with some content.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Chris, I will take the cards number of postseason appearances over the Mets any day. Also quite a few players go to the Cards…and get better.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
pepe, did you really make your point around the fact that the yankees missed the playoffs last year? thats your point? i assume you have been living under a rock for about the last 15 years? we all know the mets suck, have always sucked, and will always suck. so lets not build cases on the mets history and the one single year the yankees miss the playoffs.
a lot of these markets and their respective teams owners are clowns who dont know what they are doing. anyone with money can buy a team, but only someone who does his work 100% can build a brand.
so lets get the anti-yankee bs outta here, because you know for a damn fact that if your team built itself on pride and winning, youd be allllllll for it.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:13 am
Miles my man,
You pretty much said it right. Pepe I hate to be condescending, but you are an idiot. The Yankees have more world championships than ANY other Team in ANY other sport and have built a tradition not just from recent years but over several decades. Ever heard of Ruth, Mantle, Berra, DiMaggio, Reg Jackson, Nettles, Maris?, etc. So get ot of here with that crap about a NY baseball team not about winning.
You small towners hate the fact that New York IS the market and all things eventually revolve around New York. So just shut your trap, enjoy that revenue sharing in the millions the Yankees dole out to other teams owners pockets, and enjoy watching the Yankees in the post season.