Breaking News: A's closing in on Holliday trade!

post from Dom D's Mets Fan Blog on 10 November 2008 03:35:43 PM. © Dom D's Mets Fan Blog

According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, The A's are closing in on a deal that would send star outfielder Matt Holiday from Colorado to Oakland, SI.com has learned. It isn't known yet which players will be sent to Oakland in the surprise deal.

Updated: 3:34PM

Fox Sport's Ken Rosenthal reports , Over the weekend, the teams discussed A's outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, left-hander Greg Smith and reliever Huston Street, according to one source, but it is not known if any or all of those players will be included in the package for Holliday.

Holliday will earn $13.5 million in 2009, then become a free agent.

The A's are not acquiring him with the intention of flipping him or even trading him in July. The team is in position to increase its payroll to as much as $80 million, and plans to contend next season.

To that end, the A's also are targeting free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal to be their leadoff man. Furcal is drawing interest from about 10 clubs, according to his agent, Paul Kinzer. The acquisition of Holliday could help persuade him that the A's are serious about competing.