The Cardinals on Friday activated outfielder Matt Holliday from the disabled list in advance of their final home series of the regular season. Holliday has been out since Aug. 11 because of a fractured thumb. He's still quite limited, so he's unlikely to contribute meaningfully as the Cardinals fight for a wild card spot.
So what's going on? This ...
Per Mozeliak: #stlcards expect to decline Holliday's option and will therefore activate him off DL to try and give him one last at bat.
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) September 30, 2016
The Cardinals have a $17 million option on Holliday for 2017 that includes a $1 million buyout, and they're not inclined to pick it up. That's understandable, as they have young outfielders in place and Holliday is 36 and showing signs of decline.
The Cardinals originally signed Holliday prior to the 2010 season after acquiring him via trade for the 2009 stretch drive. The $120 million contract raised eyebrows at the time, but Holliday wound up being worth the money and then some. Across parts of eight seasons in St. Louis, he's batted .292/.379/.493 (138 OPS+) with 155 homers and four All-Star appearances.
Prior to Friday night's game against the Pirates, Holliday released the following statement:
I would like to thank Mr. Dewitt, Mo and the entire ownership group for the opportunity to play for the St. Louis Cardinals.
I am proud of what we have accomplished on and off the field during the past seven years. I have also been humbled by the incredible support and participation in our Homers for Health program.
It has been an honor to play in front of such great fans and for such a historic organization. I can honestly say it has been a dream come true.
While I'm disappointed this could be it here in St. Louis, I understand that it might be time to move on.
I'd like to express my love and admiration for Tony, Mike and all of the coaches and staff that I have had the pleasure to do life with these past seven-plus years.
The most emotional part of this is my teammates and the relationships I've built with some of these guys over the years. Particularly, Adam and Yadi, to be considered part of the core with two of the finest human beings I've ever known.
Finally, I'm eternally thankful for the Lord bringing me to the city of St. Louis in August of 2008. Lots of cool stuff has happened since then. On behalf of my wife Leslee and our children Jackson, Ethan, Gracyn and Reed: Thank you!
However the Cardinals figure out a way to get Holliday his moment, you can expect and warm and enthusiastic response at Busch Stadium. He's certainly earned it.
