Athletics set for Holliday

The Oakland Athletics completed the first major trade of baseball's offseason on Wednesday, acquiring two-time All-Star Matt Holliday from the Colorado Rockies for a trio of young players.

Holliday, entering the final year of his contract, is scheduled to make 13.5 million-dollars next season.

In exchange for Holliday, the Rockies received closer Huston Street, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and lefthander Greg Smith.

"While it is difficult to have to say goodbye to a player with the skills that Matt possesses, we wish him well," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said.

"The long-term model for our organization to be successful has always been built around the team dynamic. The three men we acquired from Oakland are talented major league players that are a solid fit for us."

Holliday, one of the top hitting outfielders in baseball's major leagues, could become a key bargaining chip next summer for A's general manager Billy Beane when big-market clubs come calling near the trade deadline.

Beane, who has tended to trade away high-priced players, indicated that Holliday represents a key building block for the Athletics, who ranked near the bottom of the American League in offense last season with a .242 team batting average and 125 homers.

"Improving the offense was clearly our stated priority this offseason," Beane said.

"Trading for a player of Matt's caliber begins the process of creating an environment in which our young hitters can continue to improve and our young pitchers can continue to develop into one of the best staffs in the league."

In 2008, Holliday batted .321 with 25 home runs and 88 RBI.

Holliday was the 2007 Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series, when he helped lead the Rockies to their lone World Series appearance.

He is a career .319 hitter with 128 homers and 483 RBI in 698 games.