Matt Holliday to the Oakland A’s?

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Several media outlets are reporting that Colorado slugger Matt Holliday is on the verge of being traded to the Oakland Athletics, a deal that could help resuscitate an American League West rivalry with the Angels that has tilted heavily toward Southern California in recent years.

The trade, which is reportedly pending the completion of physical exams, would send left-hander Greg Smith, who went 7-16 with a 4.16 earned run average last season for the A’s, and possibly former closer Huston Street to Colorado. The Rockies are in need of a late-inning reliever with closer Brian Fuentes expected to depart via free agency.

Among the other names that have reportedly been discussed are left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson and outfielders Ryan Sweeney and Carlos Gonzalez of the A’s.

Holliday, 28, finished second to Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins in the 2007 National League MVP ballotting. He hit .321 with 25 homers and 88 RBIs this season and will be eligible for free agency next winter.
Holliday is represented by Scott Boras, so the Rockies held out little hope to sign him to a long-term deal.

The St. Louis Cardinals pursued a deal for Holliday before backing out over the weekend, and Holliday has been the subject of numerous trade rumors involving the Angels in the past two years.

Holliday would provide a huge boost to an A’s offense that was besieged by injuries last season and was unable to muster much of a fight against the Angels, who won the division and finished 24 1/2 games ahead of the third-place A’s.

-- Mike DiGiovanna