Update: HOLLIDAY A CARD 7yr/120 million, p178

[skmsw]

This has dragged out long enough that Boras' strategy of waiting the market out might just work out for him.

(chuckle) that strategy usually does work for him.

[omaha_red]

good luck in NY Matt.. you'll be lucky to hit 10 homers there.

[Jocephus]

According to an MLB.com report, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that Xavier Nady's asking price is above New York's current budget.
Nady, 31, is returning from Tommy John surgery. He could eventually make sense to the Yankees on some sort of incentive-laden one-year deal, assuming he can't get better elsewhere. Nady batted .305/.357/.510 with 25 home runs and 97 RBI between the Pirates and Yankees in 2008.
Source: MLB.com

[TheoSqua]

I would think that this would be a good opportunity for the Cardinals to push Holliday into signing a contract.

The only teams who have shown interest so far are the Cardinals and Mets, with the Mets preferring Jason Bay because they can't afford to pay Holliday. If the Cardinals say "48 hours to sign the contract or we're out" then Boras is in a tight spot. If the Cardinals go another direction and start spending their money, what incentive do the Mets have to increase their bid?

Boras waiting too long could cause the best offer for Holliday to be a 4 year/ 64m deal from the Mets. There's a chance Boston might pony up a bit more since his value is so low, but if they get a deal done with Bay or decide to stick with Cameron and the Yankees are being serious about their budget, then Holliday may be seriously overplaying his cards here.

[Faceman]

This will drag out. Boras can come and get our offer at any time. Short of Holliday getting injured during the O/S, there is no reason for him to sign early.

[Eephus Speed]

Boston might trade Ellsbury and sign Holliday. Both NY teams are still a threat. Braves? Giants? Rangers?

I think there are enough possibilities that Holliday can keep waiting. I also think the Cardinals can afford to keep waiting.

[JL21]

Maybe I'm just being a Pollyanna, but I don't think the Mets are a legit threat. That organization is so dysfunctional and needs so many things to go right to contend in 2010 that I don't see it as any sort of desirable destination for Holliday. I think it'd take a perfect storm of the Mets offering way more than the Cardinals, AND no other team getting involved, for him to end up with the Mets.

The Braves? Sure. The Giants? Maybe. The Rangers? They cry poor an awful lot lately so I'd be surprised. And as we hear just about every [expletive] day, the Yankees and Red Sox are still lurking. You know... just in case anyone forgot about that.

Did I mention that the Yankees are still lurking? And the Red Sox too?

I agree with the folks who are saying that there's no real rush for either the Cardinals or for Holliday.

By the way... the Yankees have a lot of money and might sign Holliday.

[Radbird]

By the way... the Yankees have a lot of money and might sign Holliday.

Not to mention the Red Sox...

[heyzeus]

Grain of salt for ya, but...

" A Yankees official confirmed to the New York Daily News Monday that there's "zero" chance the club signs Matt Holliday or Jason Bay.
"No chance on Matt Holliday, no chance on Jason Bay," the official said. "Zero. None. Underline it." The Yankees are targeting guys like Reed Johnson and Jerry Hairston Jr. to fill their outfield vacancies and may even decide to give Brett Gardner a shot at legitimate playing time. GM Brian Cashman and Co. clearly aren't impressed with this year's crop of free agents and may have their sights set on a guy like Carl Crawford, who hits the market next winter. "

[ghostrunner]

Grain of salt for ya, but...

GM Brian Cashman and Co. clearly aren't impressed with this year's crop of free agents and may have their sights set on a guy like Carl Crawford, who hits the market next winter. "

Whoever wrote that is cracked. They're passing over Holliday this year to get to someone like Carl Crawford next year? No disrespect to Crawford, but that's unlikely.

If they're not interested in Holliday, I find it hard to imagine it's anything other than an actual budgetary concern.