Huston Street: New Closer in San Diego

posted 12/7/11 11:43 AM PST
by Jason Martinez

The Padres' last contract offer to Heath Bell was reportedly for two years and in the $14-16 million range sometime during the 2011 season. They did not want to go three years with the 34 year-old closer, so he left for a team - the Marlins - that offered him that, plus a fourth year option. Not surprisingly, their goal was to replace him with an experienced closer who would fit within the amount they had earmarked for Bell. Former A's and Rockies reliever Huston Street was acquired today to take over for Bell, who succeeded future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman. Between Bell and Hoffman, they saved 678 games from 1994 through 2011. Tough shoes to fill but the 28 year-old Street has a pretty good track record of his own.

Street has big shoes to fill in San Diego
Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.

The former 1st Round pick, who won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2005 with Oakland, brings 178 saves, a career 3.12 ERA, and impressive peripherals (0.8 HR/9; 2.3 BB/9; 9.1 K/9) with him to San Diego. The Padres still have a ways to go, in my opinion, if they want to live up to the expectations set by the 'PENitentiary', the team's dominant bullpen of the past few years that included Bell and Mike Adams, who was traded to Texas in July. It's a good start, though. Luke Gregerson, Ernesto Frieri, Joe Thatcher, Anthony Bass, and Brad Brach are in the mix to set up for Street, although it's not out of the question for the Padres to continue their search for late-inning relief options.

Street will make $7.5 million in 2012 with the Rockies picking up $500,000 of the tab. There is a $9 million mutual option in 2013 with a $500,000 buyout that the Rockies would pay. The Padres will surrender a player to be named later, one that is not expected to be a significant prospect.

Between former GM Jed Hoyer holding on to Bell at last year's trade deadline and current GM Josh Byrnes trading for Street, the Padres have, in essence, exchanged Bell and a PTBNL for two compensation draft picks in 2012 and at least one year of Street at $7 million.