Could outfielder Matt Holliday, acquired from Oakland on Friday for three minor leaguers, be the player that puts the St. Louis Cardinals over the top in the National League Central?
Chances are ... yes.
Give the Cardinals' embattled front office some credit. Stung by fan criticism for not spending money to help the team as some would like, general manager John Mozeliak has plugged two big holes in the lineup with Mark DeRosa and Holliday, with neither coming at a prohibitive cost.
DeRosa cost the Cardinals reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later that figures to be another relief prospect, either Triple-A closer Jess Todd or wild (35 walks in 38 innings) Double-A closer Francisco Samuel.
Holliday's cost is certainly higher — Brett Wallace, last year's first-round draft pick, pitcher Clayton Mortensen and outfielder Shane Peterson, who was a second-round pick last year. Mortensen looks like a so-so prospect at best and Peterson is a 21-year-old outfielder that has spent most of the season in Class A but looks like an extra guy at best.
Wallace is the key. He's just 22, but at 6-1 and 245 pounds, doesn't project as a major league third baseman in the eyes of a lot of baseball people. If he ends up as a first baseman or designated hitter, as some expect, he doesn't have much of a future in St. Louis.
We'll address the deal a little more in my major league baseball column on Monday.
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