Outfielder Matt Holiday, who provided the spark that shot the St. Louis Cardinals to the top of the NL Central and the postseason, is going to be a very expensive free agent this year. Some sources suggest he’ll seek as much as six or seven years, and more than $120 million. Good luck with that, Matt.
Regardless of the specific amount, he’s going to get a hefty contract. And it looks like he hopes it comes from one of the New York teams.
According to a person in the loop, Matt Holliday’s top choices in free agency are: 1) Yankees; and 2) Mets. The Oklahoma native is apparently not intimidated by New York.
As of now, I’d say the Yankees don’t want to make another large purchase like that, in the wake of last winter’s shopping spree – and if they win it all, then the pressure from the yakosphere (trademark Neil Best) to get Holliday should alleviate.
The Mets? Based on Jeff Wilpon’s words from a few weeks ago, they’ll consider anything and everything. Of course, many industry folks are very skeptical that the Mets will actually do so.
Holliday’s primary reservation about joining the Mets? Yup, hitting at Citi Field. Maybe they can alter the dimensions? Jerry Manuel hinted near the end of the season that wasn’t impossible. Newsday.
Holliday was never a likely possibility for the Cubs, although they could have an opening in the outfield pending the move of Milton Bradley. But even if he doesn’t come to the Cubs, it will be nice to see him leave St. Louis.