The Rockies Seem Willing to Lower the Price for Matt Holliday

With each passing day it seems more likely that Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday won't be wearing a Rockies jersey come spring training. After trying to move their MVP outfielder before the trade deadline last season and not finding any deals that worked, Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd is back at it again. With Holliday scheduled to make $13.5 million in 2009, the Rockies feel they'd be better off moving Matt and using that money elsewhere.

Colorado would like to part ways with Holliday so bad, in fact, that it appears they're even going to lower their asking price.

Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd increased the likelihood Matt Holliday will be traded with his admission Wednesday he doesn't have to receive a proven starter in return.

O'Dowd is looking for the best deal, not the best pitchers, with multiple opposing executives predicting that Philadelphia and Oakland are the most likely trade partners.

"There is not much pitching in the market available. Period," O'Dowd said. "And any pitching we get will likely be projection pitching. Not that guy that has been there, done it. We are completely open-minded to anything."

Dan says there isn't any top pitching available right now, but what he means to say there's no top pitchers available to him. The Padres wouldn't trade Jake Peavy to a division foe, and Peavy doesn't want to go there anyway.

The Phillies could be frontrunners for Holliday as they had plenty of talks with the Rockies about him back in July, but a deal could never be finalized. If Pat Burrell leaves via free agency the World Champs will probably be a lot more willing to meet Colorado's asking price.

Another team that may be a good fit is the other World Series participant, the Tampa Bay Rays. With the amount of pitching depth the Rays have they might be willing to move either Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson along with Carl Crawford -- hey look, another offseason, another possible trade of Carl Crawford -- to land Holliday.