2010 Free Agent Preview: Matt Holliday

Posted on October 29th, 2009 11:18 PM by Knuckles

Name: Matt Holliday
Age: 29
Position: OF
Current Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Current Contract: 08:$9.5M, 09:$13M

Performance: Since being traded to St. Louis from the As in the middle of the 2009 season, Holliday has been a major component of the Cardinals offense. With St. Louis Holliday hit 359/419/604 (BA/OBP/SLG) with 13HRs, and 55RBI in just 63 games. Holliday is mostly known for his tremendous performance in Colorado from 2004-2008 before he was traded to the As. However, while with Oakland, Holliday struggled hitting 286/378/454 with 11HR and 54RBI in 93 games. Which Holliday will his new team be getting?

Outlook: Two years younger than the other premiere outfielder available, Jason Bay, Holliday is likely the #1 free agent available this off season. His contract is likely to impact that of Bay and possibly players like Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and even John Lackey. The big question is how to evaluate his difficult 93 games in the American League vs. the extremely productive 63 games in the National League. Hitting behind Albert Pujols certainly helps, but is the issue more of an AL vs. NL thing. Will AL teams be scared off by Holliday's AL stats? Either way, Holliday figures to get a multi-year contract averaging $18M to $20M per year.

Suitors: Cardinals, Giants, Mets, Braves, Angles, Red Sox, Yankees.

Prediction: Definitely an NL team, look for the Giants to make a surprise signing.