New York Yankees Matt Holliday Does Not Like Oakland
By David Hill
Typically, when player signs a one year contract, they do not receive a no trade clause. However, when Matt Holliday signed with the New York Yankees, he received one to a specific team.
When the New York Yankees signed Matt Holliday to a one year, $13 Million contract, it solidified their first base/designated hitter position. Even though he will turn 37 before the 2017 season, he still showcased plenty of power, hitting 20 home runs and 20 doubles last season for the Cardinals. Perhaps more importantly, he brings a veteran presence to a young lineup, someone that can mentor the young nucleus that the Yankees have developed.
With that one year contract, the Yankees also have the luxury of being able to part ways with Holliday should he not pan out or if the team struggles. In theory, Holliday could be an attractive piece on the trade market, especially if he rediscovers his batting stroke. However, in a unique clause for a one year contract, Holliday has a no trade clause.
Well, in his case, it is a very specific clause. He can be traded anywhere, except to the Oakland A’s. He had played there before, being traded to the A’s from the Colorado Rockies prior to the 2009 season. After 93 games, where he produced a .286/.378/.454 batting line with 11 home runs, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he spent the past six and a half years.
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Apparently, those 93 games made quite the impact upon Holliday, and not in a positive way. While it is difficult to imagine the perennially cash strapped A’s being interested in acquiring his services, even for the final two or three months to the season, Holliday is not taking any chances. For some reason, he wants to part of the city or the team, and is making sure that he will not don the green and gold.
For the fans part, that dislike appears to be mutual. Based on the commentary on Chris Cotillo’s tweet about the no trade clause, there is no love lost between the A’s fans and Holliday. Perhaps these interactions explain why he is so adamant about never playing for that city again.
There are always players that, for whatever reason, just are not a fit in a certain city. Usually, this involves cities like New York or Boston, places where the media scrutiny and pressure to win can get overwhelming. To have that issue happen in a place like Oakland is certainly peculiar, although it appears as though there may be extenuating circumstances.
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Matt Holliday will need to make one trip to Oakland in 2017, but that will be it. The New York Yankees new first baseman/designated hitter made sure of that.