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SAN DIEGO PADRES
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

Acquired P-R Huston Street from the Rockies for a player to be named later. [12/7]

The rare intra-division trade where the highest-paid player is headed to the less competitive team (albeit barely), as Colorado was on a mad dash to unload Street and his $7.5 million salary in order to gain financial flexibility to pursue other options. The Padres were a willing and opportunistic suitor after losing Heath Bell to free agency, so Street finds himself traded for the second time in his career.

The first time came three years ago, when the Athletics moved Street to the Rockies as part of the Matt Holliday trade. Street had completed 70 or more innings in three of his four seasons in Oakland but has topped 60 innings just once since. Injuries have played a part, with Street missing at least 20 days in each of the past three seasons. Most concerning among the maladies is right shoulder inflammation, which caused Street to miss three months at the start of the 2010 season.

Street should please Padres’ fans, should he stay healthy. Comparing Street to Bell over recent seasons is natural and sees Street pale in comparison across a few categories (including innings pitched and earned run average), although he does own a superior strikeout-to-walk ratio. Despite facing around 150 fewer batters since 2009, however, Street has allowed 14 more home runs. Of course, moving from Coors Field to PETCO Park will assist in curbing his totals, especially if his numbers from Oakland are any indication.

Therein is the rub. Why, given the Padres’ history of finding cost-efficient relievers, would San Diego pay $6.5 million for any non-elite reliever? They appeared willing to spend on Bell if he accepted their arbitration offer, but Street is not Bell, and the Padres seem unlikely to contend this season. What gives?

Speculation leading up to the deal had the Rockies willing to pitch in money to sweeten the return. In the end, the Rockies only sent $1 million with Street, and that could be indicative of the quality of the PTBNL.  What it boils down to is the Padres paying Street for as long as he pitches for the team in exchange for what is likely to be a non-consequential player. “As long as he pitches for the team” is the key, as it seems probable that they’ll retain Street’s services through July and then try to finagle a decent return from a contender at the trade deadline. And, should they somehow make another run like 2010, then Street should help shore up their bullpen.

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bryantwebster
12/07
Would it be safe to say this is a safe stopgap as the young pitching arms trickle into the MLB 'pen, both acclimating and auditioning for their roles in 2013? It might be a steep price financially, but certainly better than overspending on a FA (see: Francisco, Frank) or possibly giving up too much in trade (see: Bailey, Andrew), right?
ScottBehson
12/07
2 years $12 total for Francisco doesn't seem like a big overspend to me
Deadheadbrewer
12/08
The analyst at BP said the same thing, but if one looks at the 100 games lost to injury over the past three seasons, and combines that with an uninteresting BB rate (3.2 per 9IP), the contract seems like a stretch in my opinion for a guy who just turned 32.
bryantwebster
12/08
True. I should have been clearer - following the Mets' lead and signing a player like Francisco for a two-year pact would have been an overspend & bad idea for the Padres, correct?
Deadheadbrewer
12/09
Sorry--I was replying to ScottyB and the thought that the Mets did not overspend for Francisco. After today's news that Dotel and Latroy Hawkins each got a $3M deal, Francisco's deal with the Mets does not seem out of line to me (except that these ALL seem out of line to me!).

I thought that the Padres did fine nabbing Street for (effectively) $6.5M. Them buying Francisco would have been insanity.
Deadheadbrewer
12/09
Of course, as a Twins fan, I threw up more than a little bit when I saw that they signed Capps for $4.75M! :-(
That's the craziest reliever-signing of all, to me.
darts1
12/08
Perhaps someone who better understands the CBA can clear something up for me, but am I right in thinking that the Padres and Mets are acquiring these middle relievers, or closers in part because they will get compensation picks once their contract runs out?

In previous years these players were hurt by the rules, but it seems like now there is a loophole in the system as teams are essentially buying, or trading for them with the intent of adding draft picks after the season.



rawagman
12/09
This trade was completed today as the Padres sent LHP Nick Schmidt to Colorado. The former first round pick very quickly proved himself to be a bust. He pitched in the Cal league this year, with decent results, but then again, he was 25 years old. For reason, he went unclaimed in the Rule V. Maybe the Rockies stick him in the bullpen and see if he can gain some helium.