MLB Trade Rumors: Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News has a slew of trade rumors involing LHRP Brian Fuentes and LF Matt Holliday.  This morning he reports the injury to Tampa Bay closer Troy Percival has kicked-up the Rays' interest in acquiring Fuentes to shore-up its relief core.  Depending how much the Rockies demand for the free-agent-to-be, this could work favorably in the Rays' favor as Fuentes could end-up a Type A free agent this winter after production of 3.38 ERA, 1.214 WHIP and 33 Saves in 93.1 innings between 2007 and 2008 so far.

The risk for the Rays would be offering arbitration to Fuentes and him accpeting it if no better offers were made in the free agent market.  With a 2008 salary of $5.05 MM, Fuentes could win his arbitration case and become a $7MM middle reliever for the Rays next year.  At 33 years-old this winter, a long-term deal could be more rare than we think.

More interesting than the speculation on Fuentes' free agency this winter, well at least to rumor mongerers and not financial stewards of small-to-mid-market teams, is the rumor Ringolsby wrote on Monday.  He reports the Rockies will decide at the All-Star break (July 14th-17th) whether to become sellers.  His sources (scouts from other teams watching the Rox)) notes that the Cardinals, Rays, Dodgers and Royals have shown some interest in LF Matt Holliday.

Would the Dodgers move some of its prospects to an intra-division rival who stacks-up favorably against itself already?  With a glaring need for a hitter who can be relied upon to hit 20+ HRs can the Dodgers afford the luxury of that concern?

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports offers up the rumor that the Angels are interested in Matt Holliday but only if $11MM a year OF Gary Matthesw Jr can be moved.  If the Rockies have to take back Sarge Jr, then this looks like a dead-end without even considering the reluctance the Angels have shown in parting with prospects.

Do the Angels need a bat like Holliday's?  Yes.  Do they need it in the OF?  No.  The power the Angels need has to come in the infield where Casey Kotchman, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Chone Figgins cannot be relied upon to it 30 HRs between them.