World Series Champions Reap The Benefits Of Billy Beane’s Wheeling And Dealing

Nov 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs fans celebrate after game seven of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians outside of Wrigley Field. Cubs won 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs fans celebrate after game seven of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians outside of Wrigley Field. Cubs won 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
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Slugger Matt Holliday only spent 93 game with the A’s in 2009 before being traded to the Cardinals where he helped St. Louis win a title.
Slugger Matt Holliday only spent 93 game with the A’s in 2009 before being traded to the Cardinals where he helped St. Louis win a title.

2011: St. Louis Cardinals

You want former A’s who passed through town while Beane was in charge? St. Louis’ 2011 championship team has plenty. Matt Holliday? Octavio Dotel? Arthur Rhodes? Even backup catcher Gerald Laird traces back to Beane because Laird was drafted by the Athletics in 1998 (he was traded to the Rangers in 2002 in the deal that briefly brought slugging first baseman Carlos Pena to Oakland). Congrats to the Cards for reaping the benefits of Beane’s frenetic front office moves and excuse me while I try to forget all about the Holliday trade. Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortensen and Shane Peterson for Holliday? That one still hurts. Beane probably never should have traded Carlos Gonzalez to the Colorado Rockies for Holliday in the first place.