On Saturday night, Angels closer Huston Street had to be helped off the field after suffering a groin injury. The team is still waiting for more information, but manager Mike Scioscia said the early prognosis is “not good,” as Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times writes. On Sunday, Scioscia added that the injury was “significant” (via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times on Twitter) and that doesn’t leave a ton of room for optimism as the Angels wait for the MRI results. Here’s the latest on Street and how the Angels might explore their limited options at this stage of the season…
Newest updates
- Street told reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that he suffered a Grade 1 groin strain and will be out for the rest of the regular season. Since a Grade 1 is the least-serious level of strain, however, there’s still a chance Street could return in the playoffs provided the Angels make it deep enough into the postseason.
Earlier today
- Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (on Twitter) hears that there is “absolutely no chance” that 2014 first-round pick Sean Newcomb will come up to the Angels in reaction to the Street injury. The left-hander has worked his way up to Double-A this season. In total, Newcomb has 27 minor league starts to his credit with a 2.38 ERA, 11.1 K/9, and 5.0 BB/9.
- Fletcher (on Twitter) hears that the Angels are trying to get a reliever from outside the organization to help bolster their bullpen. However, at this point, they’re unlikely to get anyone of impact. Furthermore, anyone they did acquire would not be eligible for postseason play.
- Halos skipper Mike Scioscia confirmed that GM Bill Stoneman is looking “inside and outside the organization” for relief help, as Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times tweets.
- One possibility from within is Vinnie Pestano, Fletcher tweets. Pestano, who pitched to a 2.10 ERA with 11.0 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 at Triple-A, is not currently on the 40-man roster.
Well after today, wouldn’t shock me to see the Nats want to get rid of Pap. He wouldn’t be eligible for the playoffs for the Angels, but he could help them get there.
I would rather have Newcomb close games rather than bring in Pap and that horrible contract
I’m quite sure if the Angels want him, he’s theirs for the last week. I don’t think his option vested, so he only has to be on the team until next Sunday. I’d take that risk if I were the Angels.
In the trade from PHI to WAS, his option automatically vested, however his salary for 2016 was reduced from 13M to 11M.
Oh, in that case no thanks if I’m the Angels. Not worth it.
After Papelbon’s dugout “exhibition”, the Nats would probably take a six pack and an autographed photo of Rick Reichardt for Pap and call it a day.
I think the Nats should just send Pap home for the last week and try to somehow get rid of him in the offseason. Even given his talent, can’t imagine there will be many suitors, but if you’re the Nats, you have to try. Harper is your best player, by far. First, you’ve got Harper’s insinuation the other day that Pap is going to get a Nats player hurt with the way Pap is throwing at opposing teams. Now this. Pap’s gotta go.
If they want to get anything for him – as opposed to cutting him, I feel they will have to downplay this situation as much as humanly possible, and sell him for 6 cents (not 10) on the dollar in the off-season.
If they send him home entirely, it may blow their only chance of this being even semi-swept under the rug.
All depends on how Harper truly feels about the situation.
Does he truly view Pabelbon as a brother who lost his cool? Or does he wish to never deal with Pabelbon again?
Huston Street took a pretty serious shot to the nuts while shagging flies some years ago, so you’d have to say he’s had more than his share of bad luck in that region of his anatomy.
Papelbon seems like a really obvious choice to get them through the week, then immediately trade in the offseason.