Complete steal by Billy Beane if you ask me.

 

A's receive:

3B - Brett Wallace (Cards top prospect)

RHP - Clayton Mortensen (2007 first round draft pick)

OF - Shane Peterson (2008 2nd round draft pick)

 

Cardinals receive:

OF - Matt Holliday

 

The A's to pay $1.5MM of the remainder of Holliday's salary; Cards left to pay about $4.5MM. Holliday is a free agent after the 2009 season.

WOW. Steal is right.

Unless the Cards manage to sign him to a long-term deal, definitely looks to be in the A's favor. But they are still prospects who have never played in the majors, so until they produce at the highest level, you never know.

Wow. What a steal.

That seems like more than what Oakland gave up to get him in the first place.

Is it all in the A's favor if the Cards manage to win a world series?

 

 

Beane is good at what he does, but could you imagine being an A's fan and constantly seeing your team turned over and prospects brought in and re-issued around the league? Wouldnt it anger you to know that there is no true effort to win a World Series, only to remain somewhat competitive?

Is it all in the A's favor if the Cards manage to win a world series?

 

 

Beane is good at what he does, but could you imagine being an A's fan and constantly seeing your team turned over and prospects brought in and re-issued around the league? Wouldnt it anger you to know that there is no true effort to win a World Series, only to remain somewhat competitive?

If my team was a small market team, I wouldn't mind what he does at all. The only way you're going to stay competitive as a small market team is to have no compassion. If you're not in it at the AS break, then anyone on your team who you can deal to build for the next season needs to be dealt. If you can get 1 borderline all-star who you can hold for 5+ seasons, then you've had a hell of a deal. Combine that with what teams usually pull from the draft, and you can get yourself in to a legit cycle of rebuilding for a couple years and then making legit runs for a couple years. It's the only way to do it with a $60 million or below salary base.

Did the Cards rush Brett Wallace through the minors? A small sample size at each level, but his numbers have dropped significantly as he's progressed.

He does a great job for the situation he's in.

 

But I think it's a good deal for both teams. The Cards have the best hitter in the game in his prime years, I think they should basically do what they need to do to win in the next year or two. Also, they are a bigger market, so they'll likely be able to offer arbitration to Holliday and DeRosa so they can get them back or get picks if they leave.

 

Beane on the other hand is hamstrung by a low payroll and he needs prospects to hit to contend, and he does a good job of trading.

 

Edit: I'm actually not sure if the Oakland or St. Louis area is a bigger market, I meant to say payroll

Edited July 24, 200916 yr by SoxFan562004

Nobody's blocking Brett Wallace, I'd be surprised if he plays at all in the minors for Oakland.

 

I would hope that the Cards feel like they have a good shot at getting him to sign an extension cause Holliday isnt worth all that talent.

I would hope that the Cards feel like they have a good shot at getting him to sign an extension cause Holliday isnt worth all that talent.

I believe Boras is his agent so an extension before the offseason is unlikely, but they're in a unique position with Pujols and even if they overpay in talent they need to focus on the next 2-3 years IMO

Can you imagine Beane with a team with money to support him.

Can you imagine Beane with a team with money to support him.

He might not be as good in those circumstances. Different type of scenario. Hard to say.

 

More prospects for Billy. That's what he likes. This time though, it looks like he's gettin' some real talent.

He might not be as good in those circumstances. Different type of scenario. Hard to say.

 

 

Kind of like between Omar Minaya Montreal and Omar Minaya Mets

He might not be as good in those circumstances. Different type of scenario. Hard to say.

 

Agreed entirely, the one guy they paid to keep was Eric Chavez, which has turned out to be a disaster. If they had a Sox-level payroll they'd have still had a hard time keeing Hudson, Mulder, Tejada, Giambi and Zito, and they could have easily made some bad choices in there.

Club hypnotist.

Holliday is going to be worth 2 picks in the offseason too, so you know Beane was taking that into consideration.

Holliday is going to be worth 2 picks in the offseason too, so you know Beane was taking that into consideration.

as were the Cardinals when they traded 3 prospects for him, they know that if they don't resign him they can probably afford the arbitration risk and atleast get some good picks out of it. Won't automatically get what they gave up, but still won't be empty handed

That is gonna be a mean 1-2 punch in St. Louis. Will be interesting to see who the fourth team in the playoffs will be in the NL. Cardinals, Dodgers, and Phillies seem like locks to me.

That is gonna be a mean 1-2 punch in St. Louis. Will be interesting to see who the fourth team in the playoffs will be in the NL. Cardinals, Dodgers, and Phillies seem like locks to me.

The Giants and Rockies have a good wild card fight going right now.

How does Billy Beane do it? With style. The A’s are going to be ridiculous if at least a third of their prospects pan out. It’s been a while since they had a great offensive core to go along with a solid pitching one.

Wallace is a pretty damn good hitter...no doubt. But he's kind of a player without a position in STL. He's stuck behind Albert forever. He's not really a 3B and no DH. He's brutal at 3rd.

I hope this doesn't reignite the Beane worshiping again. And let me be clear, the last statement doesn't apply to everyone who admits he's a good general manager, but those who had anointed him as a God nearly 7-8 years ago and made life hell for everyone during their great years. If there's anything I've LOVED about Oakland embarrassing themselves these last several seasons its all the insufferable Beane slurping that I haven't had to read about. The man's name alone is irritating. BEANE. He is invincible, because if the team struggles its "what do you expect him to do with a low payroll," and when he succeeds its "look what he has done with a low payroll!"

 

Also, everyone is complimenting Beane; what about Mozeliak? I'm willing to believe he knows what he has in his former, fat ass prospect drafted only one year ago who's stuck behind Pujols. And when you're in the position of the Cardinals, with World Series aspirations, you can afford to give up obese prospects.

Edited July 24, 200916 yr by Flash Tizzle