The Padres found their Heath Bell replacement, acquiring closer Huston Street from the division-rival Rockies for a minor leaguer. MLB.com's Thomas Harding tweeted the agreement, while Danny Knobler, Scott Miller, and Buster Olney contributed to the breaking story. Harding says the Padres will pay most of the $8MM guaranteed to Street.

 

 

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.

 

 

This marks Josh Byrnes' second trade since taking over as Padres GM, as he acquired catcherJohn Baker from Miami in November.

 

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/padres-acquire-huston-street.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

I don't get it.

Madison Ave?

Significant dropoff eh?

When I see the name Huston Street, I automatically think of Donnie Murphy.

I think Houston Street.

Certainly rather have Bell than Street for only $1m more.