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Matt Holliday always seemed destined to be a short-timer in Oakland. But if the A's don't turn their season around, the outfielder's stay might be even shorter than expected -- and he doesn't sound opposed to finishing this season with a contender if it comes to that.
Talking to reporters before Wednesday night's game against the White Sox, Holliday tried to caution that it's too early to bury the A's season and that he felt comfortable in his new clubhouse, but echoed comments he made in a satellite radio interview Tuesday, when he said that he believed a trade this season might benefit both himself and Oakland.
"I'm not going to be mad either way, let's just say that," he said, according to the Contra Costa Times. "I'll be OK to stay and play it out and see what happens. Or, if [general manager] Billy [Beane] thinks he can get a couple good players for me and give me a chance to go play in the postseason, I'll be OK with that too."
Holliday, who is expected to land a huge contract this offseason as a free agent, was acquired by the A's from the Colorado Rockies before the season. He is making $13.5 million this season. It would be a major surprise if the small-market A's were able to re-sign Holliday after the season.
In an interview with Sirius XM Radio's MLB Home Plate Channel on Tuesday, Holliday said he'd like the opportunity to play in the postseason again, something that appears to be a long shot with the A's, who reside in last place in the AL West -- 9½ games behind the division-leading Rangers.
"I'd like for this to work out. I've had a great time with my teammates and have really appreciated the way this organization has treated me in this first couple of months. The guys have been great, and I see a lot of potential in this team, but we obviously aren't playing very well," Holliday said in the interview.
"We got off to a rough start and we've had some injuries and find ourselves 10 or 11 games back in the race. So I would say if it looks like we're not going to be able to get back into the race or get healthy, I think every player wants a chance to win, and I'm no exception. I'd love to play in the postseason again. That was the time of my life in baseball ... getting a chance to play in the postseason in 2007.
"So if it looks like we're not going to be able to make it to the postseason and they can get some good players for me, I'd be OK with getting a chance to go try to make it to the postseason and play in October."
Holliday helped the Rockies reach the World Series in 2007, when they were swept by the Boston Red Sox. He had a career-best 36 homers, 137 RBIs and .340 batting average that season.
Holliday said he hasn't been approached by the A's about any trade possibilities yet.
"They have not approached me or my representation at all," Holliday said in the interview. "I would assume that being a smaller-market team that is into developing young players currently, that they will probably either trade me at some point or take their draft picks at the end of the year.
"It's sort of the understanding that I have. So we'll just kind of see what happens. I'm taking it day by day and just trying to go out there and play the best that I can to help our team win, and then move on to the next day."
Holliday, who got off to a slow start with the A's, has been hot recently. He is hitting .274 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 50 games this season. He is a career .317 hitter with 135 home runs.
Talking to reporters before Wednesday night's game against the White Sox, Holliday tried to caution that it's too early to bury the A's season and that he felt comfortable in his new clubhouse, but echoed comments he made in a satellite radio interview Tuesday, when he said that he believed a trade this season might benefit both himself and Oakland.
"I'm not going to be mad either way, let's just say that," he said, according to the Contra Costa Times. "I'll be OK to stay and play it out and see what happens. Or, if [general manager] Billy [Beane] thinks he can get a couple good players for me and give me a chance to go play in the postseason, I'll be OK with that too."
Holliday, who is expected to land a huge contract this offseason as a free agent, was acquired by the A's from the Colorado Rockies before the season. He is making $13.5 million this season. It would be a major surprise if the small-market A's were able to re-sign Holliday after the season.
In an interview with Sirius XM Radio's MLB Home Plate Channel on Tuesday, Holliday said he'd like the opportunity to play in the postseason again, something that appears to be a long shot with the A's, who reside in last place in the AL West -- 9½ games behind the division-leading Rangers.
"I'd like for this to work out. I've had a great time with my teammates and have really appreciated the way this organization has treated me in this first couple of months. The guys have been great, and I see a lot of potential in this team, but we obviously aren't playing very well," Holliday said in the interview.
"We got off to a rough start and we've had some injuries and find ourselves 10 or 11 games back in the race. So I would say if it looks like we're not going to be able to get back into the race or get healthy, I think every player wants a chance to win, and I'm no exception. I'd love to play in the postseason again. That was the time of my life in baseball ... getting a chance to play in the postseason in 2007.
"So if it looks like we're not going to be able to make it to the postseason and they can get some good players for me, I'd be OK with getting a chance to go try to make it to the postseason and play in October."
Holliday helped the Rockies reach the World Series in 2007, when they were swept by the Boston Red Sox. He had a career-best 36 homers, 137 RBIs and .340 batting average that season.
Holliday said he hasn't been approached by the A's about any trade possibilities yet.
"They have not approached me or my representation at all," Holliday said in the interview. "I would assume that being a smaller-market team that is into developing young players currently, that they will probably either trade me at some point or take their draft picks at the end of the year.
"It's sort of the understanding that I have. So we'll just kind of see what happens. I'm taking it day by day and just trying to go out there and play the best that I can to help our team win, and then move on to the next day."
Holliday, who got off to a slow start with the A's, has been hot recently. He is hitting .274 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 50 games this season. He is a career .317 hitter with 135 home runs.
