The Padres found their Heath Bell replacement, acquiring closer Huston Street from the division-rival Rockies for minor league left-hander Nick Schmidt. The Rockies have officially announced the trade. The Rockies are eating $1MM on Street's $8MM salary, tweets Joel Sherman. MLB.com's Thomas Harding tweeted the agreement, Joel Sherman tweeted when it became official, and Danny Knobler, Scott Miller, and Buster Olney contributed to the breaking story.
Street, 28, posted a 3.86 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, 1.54 HR/9, and 34.9% groundball rate in 58 1/3 innings for the Rockies this year, saving 29 games in 33 attempts. The move to Petco Park should help Street's home run rate, and if he has a big year he could decline his $9MM player option for 2013 and test the open market. Street had a DL stint for triceps soreness in August, during which the Rockies realized Rafael Betancourt could be an effective closer. The move appears to be mostly a salary dump for Colorado, and the team now has more money to pursue a starting pitcher such as Hiroki Kuroda. For fantasy analysis of the deal, check out Bryan Grosnick's latest at CloserNews.
Schmidt, 26, was drafted 23rd overall by San Diego in the 2007 draft. The southpaw has yet to pitch beyond the high Class A level, posting a 4.61 ERA and an 8.00 K/9 rate in four pro seasons. Schmidt underwent ligament replacement surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2008 season.
This marks Josh Byrnes' second trade since taking over as Padres GM, as he acquired catcher John Baker from Miami in November.
Stupid move for San Diego. Paying a lot for a closer who isn’t even elite. They also need bats, not inconsistency at the back of the pen
Yeah that lineup is a joke. Not a single hitter to be concerned with for the opposing pitcher.
if Guzman gets more playing time, he would be somebody teams would worry about. But then again, somebody would have to be on base for it to be a concern..hmm. maybe you’re right. Wait, Headley may come into his own this year…or maybe not. Perhaps the combination of Maybin, Guzman and Headley is somewhat formidable. oh well, I’ll just wait and see.
There is a saying we Padres fans live by here in San Diego, “Keep the faith.”
And boy do we attend games! A beauty to spend a lovely evening watching the Padres among 25-30 thousand people… man, just a few things can beat that.
Not sure 8 million is a lot given the closer market, it’s a one year deal, and cost them nothing towards the future. The Pads could not move forward hoping that Gregerson and Frieri were going to be able to step up.
The chance of moving him in July for a prospect are strong. I am surprised that they did not just swap bad deals of Hudson for Street, but oh well.
I don’t think it’s a bad move as long as the minor leaguer isn’t a big prospect. Spend some money, sure. But the HR rate will decrease in Petco, and they might get a good return for him at the deadline.
They can only score 2 runs a game. They need a closer and better than give up legit prospects for Bailey or giving Bell a 3 yr deal
Love the question marks.. haha
“Stay classy San Diego?”
Huston was good 90 years ago lmafo
But he goes to a pitcher’s heaven…
Its a 1 year deal though, I don’t want to trade top prospects for a decent but nothing special bat, also rockies won’t be getting any prospect of value.
I am not by any means in love with this move. However, while Street is not elite his numbers are not that far off from the elite closers. He has about a career 4:1 career K:BB rate. He also put up sub 4 ERA’s 3 straight years at Coors, not an easy task. Solid bullpen guy, but I don’t like the $7m being spent here unless it yields something bigger down the line.
I am not by any means in love with this move. However, while Street is not elite his numbers are not that far off from the elite closers. He has about a career 4:1 career K:BB rate. He also put up sub 4 ERA’s 3 straight years at Coors, not an easy task. Solid bullpen guy, but I don’t like the $7m being spent here unless it yields something bigger down the line.
If the team gives up a lesser prospect as ptbnl than great move paying mostly money for Street. If it’s one of the SP prospects than terrible
Really? Getting an above average closer for a A pitcher that is not in any way in your clubs future, and if he has a strong year, getting two draft picks for him, or prosepcts at the trade deadline?
Good pick up for San Diego, although I don’t understand why paying him almost 8M for next year was so much easier than paying up on Bell…
Rockies are paying most of his salary
It says above the padres are…
Actually, “Harding says the Padres will pay most of the $8MM owed to Street.”
Just damn stupid if you ask me. Unless Josh thinks he’ll have Theo/Jed or Ben by the balls at the trading deadline (quite possible with Marmol and ??? closing) and willing to give up way more.
They were going to spend on a closer one way or another. They could have spent less on Brad Lidge, but no, don’t think Street was stupid. Look for a big bounceback to his Oakland days. IMO, this is a better outcome then Bell accepting arbitration or signing a 2-year deal as they get their closer along with two picks, while giving up what I bet is an expendable prospect.
I don’t see Street as a “major” downgrade from Bell. So from the standpoint that they get 2 picks and a Bell replacement for a couple mil less, not bad. However; given Bell was already gone, I wonder if they could have put that $7m towards a legit bat and plugged in Frieri at closer. I don’t think Street will put up “significantly” better numbers than Frieri would have.
One year, $8MM is a much smaller commitment than three years, $27MM
And yet is still much larger than $0, because they don’t need this guy, they need hitters.
what offense are you going to get for a 1 year commitment for that price
Juan Rivera signed a 1 year $4.5M with the Dodgers. He’s not great but he’d be better on that team than Street.
so your answer is then
correct, you can’t get any offense for that price and commitment
Ok, but that still doesn’t mean they should throw that money at Street. But I change my tune on this if Street puts up good numbers and they get a good prospect at the deadline.
Yeah, exactly what the team needs is a mediocre outfielder limited to LF. I’d prefer the team play Blanks, or Guzman or Darnell out there over Rivera any day of the week, not to mention the three of them will cost 1/3 of what Rivera will make in 2012, combined.
Street fits a bigger need as the pen needed some reinforcements.
It’s funny all the comments about how the Padres don’t even need a closer, because you can’t save games you aren’t winning, but at the same time just lost their closer who has saved more games over the last three years then anyone.
The lineup would be a lot better with Headley, Guzman and Blanks all in it together, which they probably did only a couple of times last year, due to the late season promotions of the latter two to Headley getting hurt at about that same time.
I’m not really advocating that they should have signed Rivera, I offered it as an example only. I agree with you they’re better off just playing their kids. That said, unless the Padres flip Street for at least one good prospect, this deal was stupid. Not only do they not need a closer, but spending money on closers has been shown to be inefficient. It is essentially a luxury of a team with a big budget. The Padres don’t have a lot of money to begin with.
Have you looked at their projected lineup next year as well as their starting staff? A tweak or two may be made in the meantime, but the roster is constructed quite cheaply. Prior to adding Street, Hudson & Bartlett were their two costly players at 5-5.5m a piece, with Headley and Stauffer the next ones in line looking at around 3m. The entire projected rotation of Latos, Luebke, Stauffer, Richard, Bass/Moseley will cost around 7m next year, and less if they trade/non-tender Moseley.
For me, it’s not they don’t have much money to begin with, it’s what are they going to spend it on to get to the 53-55m figure Moorad anticipated. Ton of cheap players on this roster. Had they stayed inhouse with the options they have and not traded for Street, they would have no problem coming in under 40m, and probably closer to 35m.
So no, I don’t agree with your stance that the 2012 Padres are in no position to afford Street.
They can afford Street, the question is what is the opportunity cost? I don’t think the Street signing is stupid, just questionable.
They can afford Street, the question is what is the opportunity cost? I don’t think the Street signing is stupid, just questionable.
As a Dodger fan all I have to say is: take Rivera, please!
Bell would have signed for less to stay in San Diego as long as he got 3 years.
1 year of street is a lot different than 3 years for Bell. Like others have said, he most likely becomes a trade chip in July.
It’s a one year deal worth 3+ million less than Bell would have gotten in arb, and they can trade him at the deadline for something worthwhile if he is healthy. Bell wanted 3 years….and would have wrapped up too much salary in the long term.
Because part of the plan the Padres have is to trade their stars for mid to non-future prospects, and acquire soon to be free agent pitchers who at PetCo will have a great season, offer then arbitration with the mutual agreement that they will decline it, so the Padres get draft picks.
They already have a draft pick locked in place for Heath, and next year when Street declares free agency they will get another pick. So, basically they spent 7 millions in exchange for one year of a closer and two draft picks.
Read the new CBA.
How about them Rockies collecting young players/pitchers?
I wouldn’t exactly call Street young…
wouldn’t exactly call the Padres the Rockies…
Wrong way
haha, wow sorry. Is there a pitcher headed back for sure though?
EDIT: Damn, I suck. He said pitchers/players.
He’s just turned 28, thats the Prime age for 99% of the baseball world, hell its the prime age of any professional athlete.
This move looks so simple, why didn’t the Red Sox at-least obtain him for an 8th inning guy.
As a Rockies fan, I would at least be intrigued by a Street for Jed Lowrie swap. Lowrie has an injury history, and is sort of an average defender, but he’s a switch-hitter who can play all over the infield. Could be interesting to see how Tracy would use him all over the field.
Now you have to be intrigued by a player to be named later
“Padres will pay most of the $8MM owed to Street”.. We don’t know if that is $4.1MM or $7.9MM yet. Don’t judge yet. Based on performance and experience alone, I like this move.
So is it a PTBNL to the Rockies or an unnamed minor leaguer?
I wonder if the Padres might turn around and flip Street elsewhere. Otherwise this seems like a strange move…
Probably they will, but after he pitches half a season at Petco and builds value. Empty value yes, but in the eyes if homer GMs it’s real value.
I think you should take a look at Houston Street’s home and away splits. He had a 2.15 ERA on the road last year and an ERA above 5 at Coors. He has real value, he just struggled pitching in such a hitters environment.
There’s also the unquantifiable benefit of working with Buddy Black (former pitcher), Darren Balsley, and Darrel Akerfelds.
Although he may not get the chance to work with Darrel unfortunately.
Balsley is the most underrated pitching coach in the game.
The Rockies better invest the ca$h they just gained for 2012 towards an area of need. If it goes towards Hiroki Kuroda or Edwin Jackson, that would be nice.
If its a decent prospect, then it makes sense. If its a nobody, then it seems like Colorado would be selling low…. Unless its a top prospect, San Diego makes out …ends up in their eyes as 1 year of Street and 2 prospects for 3 years of Bell and 1 prospect..Win for SD
If it’s a top prospect Byrnes will have a lot of explaining to do. Paying almost all of his salary should mean it is at worst a B prospect leaving the Padres.
probably much less than a b prospect. This is a salary dump.
I hope so.
Why would the Padres want an $8MM reliever? Aren’t they strapped for cash or something? Doesn’t make any sense…
They allegedly have $20-million to spend this offseason
Exactly, in fact they have more money at their disposal then any other team in the West right now.
So why not get a bat? Luke Gregorson could close out games. Lack of offense is what keeps the Padres from making the playoffs, not their bullpen.
which bat? Aramis Ramirez?
Lol anything qould be better than what they have.
What bat do you propse they get? That they can afford? Andruw Jones maybe to play LF? Not a ton of middle of the order affordable bats in the world. Gregerson is no closer !
How about Willingham? Yeah, he’s not Mays in the field but he’ll hit 25 home runs. Put him behind Guzman and we might actually have some offense to speak of.
Given the market for closers, 8-million isn’t bad. The trade off for paying most of his salary is not giving much up in return. Not only that, his biggest area of concern is home runs allowed which will assuredly improve moving from Coors to PETCO.
I think your logic is sound, but if I’m the Padres GM I say screw the “market for closers” and just develop from within.
Easier said then done. Brach might be a fit for the role, but throwing him in it right now wouldn’t be their first choice. After Gregerson’s inconsistent 2011, the last thing they’d want to do is promote him. He looked off all year long, which is obviously a concern. Ernesto Frieri was the other possible in house option, and he too is the same inconcistent sort. He needs to add much more polish to his game before getting to that point.
Keep in mind the Padres won more games in the NL from the 2009 trade deadline through the 2010 season. 2011 stunk, but there is enough talent on the roster to bounce back quickly. Adding a solid closer shores up a weakness, which was needed. When you look deeper into their 2012 budget and the contracts on hand and it was evident they would be spending a nice chunk in the pen. They have a 53-55m budget with their lineup & rotation costing only around 25m. Though additions could be made, with a RF probably the most likely acquisition if there is one.
They had Adrian Gonzalez in the 2009-2010 timeframe that you reference, and they don’t now. I don’t think 2011 was as much of an aberration as you may be thinking.
Given Street’s health risk status it’s a good deal for the Rockies to be rid of him–and it’s a risk for the Padres–but the kind of small to medium $ risk that small-market teams take
Unless they deal him at the deadline, this was stupid.
Would signing Frank Francisco for 2/12m, or Brad Lidge for say 1/5m have been “smart” ?? — those are the kind of alternatives. Your promote from within campaign isn’t realistic, due to all the relievers that have been moved/let go in the past year – Webb, Mujica, Adams & Bell – were 4/5’s of their top-5 relievers from a year ago.
Saying they don’t add anyone, IMO, is the stupid part of the equation.
Well, agree to disagree I guess. Oakland has developed closers from within for years now. They can’t be the only ones who can do it. The save is a very overrated and over-paid-for stat. They can go by committee or whatever until they find something that works. But I’m thinking they’re not going to be contending in 2012, but it seems like you (and their Front Office, apparently) are, so we’re looking at this differently to begin with.
I am not sold one way or the other on this one. I think a bat should have been a bigger priority. Maybe the Padres expect to be in the division race this year. Although I think Frieri could close for the Padres, I think the better longer term options such as Quackenbush are a year or two away. If the Padres think they can win 90 games this year, then this will be a nice stop gap aquisition. If they don’t compete then they may have a nice trade piece. Low risk move, with some questions as to whether they could have spent the money more wisely.
Best Oriole “Non” Acquisition in a long, long, time!
Thank God!
Care to explain why? For a PTBNL that is an absolute steal. I don’t know why the O’s felt they couldn’t match that.
Good pick-up for the Pad’s. I really wish he would have left the NL West though cuz he’s tough to hit. Pad fans should be grateful and stop complaining he’s younger and better than heath bell. Heath bell’s stats are declining anyways.
The only reason I see for this move is that Street will probably have an ERA well under 2 pitching in that ridiculous park, a contending team at the deadline will see that low ERA and offer SD more than SD gave up for him. As long as the prospect isn’t a good one, this move is low-risk/high-reward.
You’re right, it all depends on the prospect. Byrnes seemed to give up prospects a little to freely while in Arizona, I’m not going to lie, as a Padre fan I’m a little nervous.
Rizzo going back the other way? Lol jk
Good pick up by the Padres but we’ll have to see who’s going back the other way to tell if the trade is a win on the Pads side of things. Right now its looking pretty good.
If the prospect going to the Rockies is of any conseqeunce Byrnes should have his head examined. If the Rockies had paid most of the salary then fine give a decent prospect, however I wouldn’t have been happy about it, but with the Padres assuming most of the salary the player going to the Rockies had better not be much of a prospect.
Wow. Reds letting Closers getting traded for NOTHING and get signed to small contracts without doing a thing. Jeez. I know they need a #2 starter more then anything but still! If they will contend (I fully expect them to) they need a closer. I HOPE they can find a starter and closer in the next couple days.
Which are the closer’s signed for small amounts that you would want if you are trying to contend? Similarly, it is not clear that you would want to depend upon Street if you have serious plans to contend. That is quite the gamble.
Do the Rockies have to give this PTBNL to the Twins now? Mind. Blown.
I want you to think about that statement for a second. Trading Huston Street for nothing? Yeah, that makes total sense.
Maybe Street was the PTBNL all along! inception
Nice move. His groundball rate shouldn’t be as much of an issue at Petco.
Good move by the Padres. Street has been decent for the Rockies. His HR rate will decrease in Petco. He knows the NL West and comes on only 1-year commitment for the Padres (assuming player option will not be exercised). Hopefully the PTBNL will be quasi-fringe.
The Padres will be in many 1 or 2 run games and need a decent closer to win any games. I am sure Bell has saved way more than half of all Padres wins over the last few seasons.
So like it or not, the Padres despite being potentially really awful needed a closer.
12:54pm: One GM who spoke with the Rockies tells ESPN’s Jayson Stark the Padres-Street deal is not done and the Colorado is still talking to at least one other team.
Oh good gravy man go to San Diego!
Would very much like to see this deal done as a Padres fan.
As Henny Youngman used to say… Take My Wife, Please.
San Diego, please take Huston Street!
As Henny Youngman used to say… Take My Wife, Please.
San Diego, please take Huston Street!
If Huston Street played third base, would they call it the hot corner — or the street corner?
Can’t help but feel this would have been a better move for the Mets than Frank Francisco for 2 years $12m. Depends who they’re giving up.
You forget the Mets picked up Bob Geren as bench coach.
Oh god I did. Willfully forgot.
While many seem to be poo-pooing this deal, Padres have a drought of major-league relievers after losing Webb, Mujica, Adams, and Bell. So long as the player they gave up wasn’t anyone of note, I’m content.
I don’t understand this move. Heath Bell wanted to sign with the Padres and probably would agree on an extension (3 yrs/24-27M). Instead they sign a player with almost the same amount of money on a one year deal who is probably going to sign else where after the season.
Padres pick up two high draft picks letting bell go. Plus Bell’s peripherals are trending downward, and his traditional numbers were bolstered by petco. Street’s big problem was the Coors special – homer ball, which petco should help. Smart move by the pads.
Plus after the good year Street should have in San Diego with Petco and Balsley helping him out, the Padres can trun Street into 2 high draft picks for next years draft or a decent prospect or 2 at the deadline.
So O’Dowd has managed to trade two useful MLB players (Street, Iannetta) for Chatwood (a pitching prospect who can’t throw strikes) and a PTBNL. And all cost him to do so was $1 million.
Brilliant.
Not bad. I like the pitcher, Street has been consistant througout his career and should post good #’s in petco. Only concern with Street is DL time. Although, in some ways an occasional stint on the DL allows the Padres to audition in house candidates for the 2013 job. From a value standpoint, this is not the best aquisition for the Padres. Paying $7m for a pitcher that will only yield $7m in WAR value(and that assumes he stays healthy all year) does not seem to fit the mold of a team that needs surplus value to have any chance of competing. This would be a good move for a team that thinks it is close to a division title. The Padres, are likely several good hitters from a division title. A couple questions come to mind on this aquisition. Will he be trade bait? Could the Padres have plugged in an in house candidate for far cheaper that would have performed at or near Streets level?
I see this as a low risk move but I have to wonder at what opportunity cost.
I am beginning to wonder if the Padres feel they truly can not go out and sign high quality bats. The Padres have had to aquire many bats in recent years via trade. If this is the case, the move for Street could be about piling on the pitching in order to trade for bats later. The Padres seem to be stockpiling young pitchers. Perhaps the Padres have realized the only way they can ever put together a damn good lineup is through aquiring young talent like Maybin through trades and drafting young talent like Gyorko.
I like the move for the Padres. I don’t like the idea of spending over $6M on a reliever for a team with a payroll around 50-55M, but where else were they going to spend the money?
Byrnes seems happy with their rotation being Latos, Luebke, Stauffer, Richard, Moseley, since the Padres have so many solid arms in the upper minors. I can’t really argue with this line of reasoning. Any SP that represents a substantial upgrade over Richard/Moseley is going to want too many years guaranteed. With 6 solid pitching prospects with experience in the upper minors they shouldn’t be making long term commitments to SP’s.
Any position player FA that represents an upgrade is going to cost more $/years than the Padres should feel comfortable committing to. If they are going to acquire a position player starter it will probably be via trade, not free agency.
I don’t think Street will be worth $7M, but the Padres were going to have to overpay to get a closer anyway. Gregerson and Frieri showed last year that they probably aren’t closer material and Brach is too inexperienced to be thrust into that role in 2012.
I think they should sign one more FA reliever, try to dump Hudson and/or Bartlett, and try to trade for a young corner outfielder. Not sure there are any young outfielders that could be had though. Maybe Kalish or Reddick from the BoSox, or maybe Dom Brown from the Phillies.
Lidge said he was willing to take an 8th inning role, so if the price is right it wouldn’t bother me if the Padres signed him too. Do you know why Fernando Rodney is getting no play? I realize his numbers weren’t great last year, but 2 years ago he was a much sought after reliever. Just an assumption, but I’m pretty sure Balsley could probably get a good year or 2 out of him as well.
Reddick can be had. Kalish is coming off neck surgery, so I don’t think there is any interest in him at the moment.
Josh Byrnes first two trades are very comforting. Their not the sexiest moves, but both smart ones.
This Schmidt kid sounds like A) damaged goods (surgery in 08) and not all that young for a “prospect” that was drafted in the 1st round. Sure, he’s a lefty… but if you were gonna dump Street WHY do it in Division if this is all youre getting?
This Schmidt kid sounds like A) damaged goods (surgery in 08) and not all that young for a “prospect” that was drafted in the 1st round. Sure, he’s a lefty… but if you were gonna dump Street WHY do it in Division if this is all youre getting?
those rumors were spot on
wow , good move
Betancourt is not going to last even half the season as the closer for the Rockies.
funny he lasted half a season last year from the AS Break on he had a 49/1 K/BB
Funny, he’s going to be 37 at the start of the season and never held a closers job full-time at any time in his career. On top of that the turnover for closers is pretty high – especially for guys who have proven they cannot get it done, which are most relievers.
I really don’t understand what is so objectionable about this deal. The Padres get a good closer for nothing. You can argue that with that $8 million they could have spent the money on offence but… in reality, that isn’t the case.
So they sign Willingham for 2/15, he loses power at Petco, is worse in the field and has absolutely ZERO protection in that lineup. They still finish the season with a crap record and get nowhere in the long run. Willingham won’t be helpful by the time San Diego contend.
The only way the Padres get better on offence is to acquire and develop young talent from within that plays to the strengths of the stadium (IE not Josh Willingham). Getting a good closer like Street for nothing, letting him pitch for half a season, look good and then trade him for something useful is a good plan… providing it works. Low risk, possibly decent reward.
If offence could be had for 1/8 then the Pirates wouldn’t have had losing records for so long.
Schmidt is better than most think, but was far down the pecking order in SD. I could see him having an impact on the Rockies rotation as early as 2012, but realistically his eta is 2013 for a back-end job.
Clark, Galvez, and Schmidt I thought were 3 of the best players in the rule 5 but none got selected. It probably would have been difficult to carry Galvez or Schmidt for an entire season; but by getting Schmidt as the PTNL they can let him spend the year in the minors.
He’s older but was a good college pitcher at Arkansas and delayed by Tommy John.