Hot Stove Heats up as the Haymakers deal Holliday before the Holidays

TROY: Matt Holliday is a Haymaker no more. The player picked up in a major deal last off season and was considered untouchable during the season as the Haymakers drown in the toilet of the Less Filling West division; was sent packing to the Grizzlies on Monday for Brandon Phillips, Yuniesky Betancourt, and Jason Marquis.

Haymakers management has been busy this week making two more deals sending the other big bat, Aubrey Huff to the Chow Cows in return for the prospect Billy Butler and a third round pick. That third round pick was then traded for outfielder Cody Ross.

Based on the recent transactions to come out of Troy's camp, one would think that the team is building for the future and already folding on this season; but don't tell that to GM Ken Anderson. "Don't forget that we have 2 picks in 6 of the first 8 rounds of the draft, we are going to field a pretty competitive team." he says, "There are some pretty helpful players available in the draft, especially in the first two rounds where we have three picks."

On paper, the team looks very promising. The young talent of Hunter Pence, Andre Ethier and Elijah Dukes in the outfield along with the the newly acquired Phillips and Butler in the infield; they sound more like a lineup from the AAA All-Star game. And no one would confuse them with the likes of Hank Greenberg and Ty Cobb.

"Overall we are pretty pleased with our team," said the GM, "We like the talented arms and hitters we have on our team and are looking at a bright future for this ballclub."

Apparently the team was unhappy with their manager Davy Johnson who was fired today and replaced by Ed Kranepool. The new manager was quick to fire old pitching coach Dwight Gooden and bring in Jerry Kooseman. Mookie, HoJo and Keith Hernandez were the other coaches kept on the team. "I'm excited to be here and hopefully bring this team out of the basement in this division," said Kranepool, "Although this team had a successful first season, they still finished in last place. We are going to correct that this year." That's a bold statement; it seems the Haymakers have a lot of work to do during the draft.