GM John Mozeliak announced that the club will not be picking up Holliday’s $17 million club option for next year. A $1 million buyout will be executed instead. He won’t get a qualifying offer either as it would be about the same price. Mozeliak says that doesn’t mean they won’t still bring him back, but that won’t be decided until the winter meetings.
Holliday will be 37 when spring training begins and he is finishing his worst season as a major leaguer, having hit .242/.318/.450 with 19 homers over 424 plate appearances.
He’s missed the last six weeks with a fractured thumb suffered on August 11th in Chicago.
“The unfortunate part of baseball or sports is injuries. He literally got a bad break, no pun intended,” said Mozeliak. “I feel bad about that. But when you sit in my seat, it can’t solely be on relationships and maybe the short view. I have to think about this long-term. It’s unfortunate, but nothing ever lasts forever — especially in sports.”
Holliday was activated from the DL today and will make a final appearance.
Statement from Holliday:
