The St. Louis Cardinals made a big move to bolster their offense by acquiring Matt Holliday in a trade with the Oakland A’s on Friday.  Holliday will likely bat clean-up behind the best hitter in baseball – Albert Pujols – to give Pujols some protection down the stretch run of the 2009 MLB schedule.

The Cards lead the NL Central by 1.5 games over each of the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.  The addition of Holliday should put the Cards in great position to win the NL Central division in 2009.

The Cards sent power-hitting 3rd baseman Brett Wallace, outfielder Shane Peterson and right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen back to the A’s in the trade.