Sportsbooks saw the St. Louis Cardinals reaching an agreement with Matt Holliday on a huge deal that is the biggest in franchise history. Internet sportsbook had Holliday agreeing to a 7-year deal worth about $120 million to stay with the Cardinals.
Sportsbooks like the chances of St. Louis next season in baseball odds. The Cardinals are one of the serious contenders at the Internet sportsbook to win the World Series. They are still behind the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies but they are not far behind. Getting Holliday back was huge for the Cardinals. The deal has $119 million guaranteed over seven seasons plus a $17 million vesting option for 2017 and a $1 million buyout. Holliday confirmed the deal on an ESPN Radio interview. “I’m going back to the Cardinals,” he said. “I’m excited about it.”
Holliday was really good for St. Louis last season and he definitely affected results at sportsbooks. He came over from Oakland in July and then hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBI in 63 games for St. Louis. The Cardinals were a huge success at sportsbooks after the trade, going 32-11. “I felt like I wanted to kind of see what’s out there and kind of look around and maybe see what other teams are all about,” said Holliday, “At the end of the day, playing in St. Louis and playing with the guys I made friends with became something that was very appealing to me.” Holliday batted cleanup behind Albert Pujols in the lineup. He hit .313 overall with 24 homers and 109 RBI last season. Internet sportsbook stats show that it was his fifth .300 season and third year of having 100 RBI or more.
The Holliday deal is the biggest of the sportsbooks baseball off-season. It is well beyond what Jason Bay got from the Mets or what John Lackey got from the Red Sox. Internet sportsbook info has the deal setting up St. Louis to get something done with Pujols who is entering the final year of his $100 million, seven-year contract. Sportsbooks indicate that the Cardinals do have a $16 million dollar option for 2011 though.
Sportsbooks indicate that the Cardinals are now only the third team with two $100 million players. The Yankees have four, (Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia) while the Mets have two (Johan Santana and Carlos Beltran).