Posted by Matthew Whipps on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 10:37 am

While the trade deadline is still over a month away, teams with holes to fill are already starting to sniff around some of the remains of teams that have all but fallen out of the race.

The names of the impact bats that may be available this summer are beginning to dwindle due to injuries which will end up making the cost of the ones remaining climb.

With the injury to Xavier Nady looking more grim the Yankees now can’t afford to part with a Nick Swisher and with the inevitable need for surgery for Adrian Beltre (bone spurs in his shoulder) along with a big price tag, teams will most likely be hesitant to pull the trigger and part with prospects. So who is it that teams are coveting?

The biggest name that may be on the move is a guy who already changed area codes once since the end of last season, Matt Holliday. While most teams would love to have him, the number of teams that may be eyeing him are most likely limited in large part because of what it will take to reign him in.

Putting the Angels aside (who are rumored to be suitors and always looking for a bat this time of year), I think there is one team that would be a perfect fit for a Holliday swap. In my mind there is one team that may be willing to take a plunge due to their position and assets and could use help in solidifying the middle of their lineup. I personally haven’t seen their name mentioned anywhere in the Holliday talks but may be able to offer the best situation for all parties involved. That team is the Cincinnati Reds.

Take a look at my reasoning:

• The Reds are only 3.5 games out of first. They could use a left fielder, a veteran who’s been there before and another big bat to help fill the void left by Adam Dunn and to wedge between Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto.

• The Reds may have more leverage than many suitors with prospects like Drew Stubbs, Homer Bailey, Matt Maloney, Todd Frazier and others to help sweeten the offer.

• I’m not saying all Holliday’s numbers are thanks to the “Coors Effect” but it undoubtedly made a difference. He’s currently hitting .269 with a .790 OPS and only 8 homers in a very hitter unfriendly stadium in Oakland. Last time I checked the Reds had a very hitter friendly ball park.

Looking at it that way, all three sides win. Reds get the leadership and impact bat they need, the A’s get some solid young prospects they always clamor for and Holliday gets to join a playoff hunt in a hitter happy park. Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me.

Now whether or not my logic makes sense to the parties involved is a completely different question.