Cardinals Appear Interested in Matt Holliday

When I wrote about the Cardinals being interested in trading one of their slugging outfielders yesterday, I assumed it would be to fill one of their needs, likely in the middle of their infield or bullpen (they're rumored to be interested in Kelly Johnson or Yunel Escobar in Atlanta). Apparently, that might not be the case. Joe Strauss at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that one of the hot topics at the recently concluded GM meetings in Southern California is multi-player trade between the Cardinals and Rockies that would involve Matt Holliday and Ryan Ludwick.

Now, any deal is far from being done at this point, but Cards' GM John Mozeliak didn't deny the discussions took place and there seems to be some substance to this one. Allow me to first present the gut reaction to hearing this rumor: Holy crap! Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in the same lineup? That would be unstoppable! Mozeliak is serious about rebuilding this team!

This is, of course, followed by the logical response to this sort of trade. Isn't Holliday, kind of, not all that great away from Coors Field? Wouldn't replacing Ludwick with him likely be a lateral move? Don't the Cardinals have real holes elsewhere on the field? I mean, I know Holliday is a good hitter, but don't the Cardinals need to be focusing elsewhere?

Isn't being an armchair GM fun?