Sources say Holliday headed to Oakland A’s

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Star outfielder Matt Holliday appears headed to the Oakland Athletics.

Two people familiar with the proposed deal said Monday the A’s and the Colorado Rockies have reached a tentative agreement. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized.

It was unclear whom Colorado would get for the two-time All-Star. One of the people said reliever Huston Street, lefty starter Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez are among the players who had been discussed in recent days.

Holliday, MVP of the 2007 NL championship series, is due to make $13.5 million next season and then will be eligible to become a free agent.

Holliday was to have a physical Tuesday, one of the people said. The big-hitting left fielder unexpectedly dropped in on the general managers’ meetings last week in Dana Point, Calif.

The tentative trade was earlier reported by SI.com and ESPN.com.

“Talks are continuing. They’re very fluid and at this point, everything’s speculation,” Rockies spokesman Jay Alves said, speaking on behalf of general manager Dan O’Dowd.

Oakland owner Lew Wolff, attending a regional luncheon of Associated Press Sports Editors, wouldn’t confirm or deny a trade but said he had already spoken with general manager Billy Beane three times on Monday.

“Billy’s doing different things right now,” Wolff said.

The A’s are known for making big trades, but lately they’ve been shedding stars and payroll. Gonzalez and Smith were among the six players Oakland acquired last offseason when it traded top pitcher Dan Haren to Arizona.

The 28-year-old Holliday, playing half his games at Coors Field, has 128 homers and 483 RBIs in five big league seasons. His best year was 2007, when he won the NL batting title with a .340 average and had 36 homers and a league-best 137 RBIs in helping the Rockies reach the World Series. He was runner-up to Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins for NL MVP.

Oakland was last in the majors leagues with a .242 batting average this season and last in the AL with 646 runs.

The A’s used eight starters in left field and finished 75-86, their worst record since 1998.

Street, a 25-year-old right-hander, lost his job as Oakland’s closer during season and finished 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 18 saves in 25 chances. He joins a bullpen that includes Manny Corpas and saw closer Brian Fuentes become a free agent.

Smith, 24, went 7-16 with a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts during his first major league season. Gonzalez, 23, was also in his first big league season and hit .242 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 302 at-bats.