Huston Street to the Tigers?
By Blake VandeBunte • Nov 2nd, 2008 • Category: Huston Street, Oakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics have been one of the model baseball franchises over the past fifteen years, both figuratively and literally. You know how a lot of teams now focus on adding guys who can get on base while building their farm system (the Red Sox come to mind)? The A’s invented that strategy. There was a book written about their way of doing business and putting together a winning team.
The A’s have fallen on hard times lately and are now focused on re-tooling and getting a winner out there in a year or two. At any rate, this all adds up the Athletics selling off proven players for multiple youngsters. One of the players who is probably on the block now is their closer Huston Street. You may recall Street being the pitcher who gave up the game winning homer to Magglio Ordonez in game four of the 2006 ALCS.
Street lost his job as closer midway through the 2008 season as the A’s had some prospects emerge who could do the job for a lot less money. Believe it or not Street is only 25 years old and already has 94 career saves. He was named the American League Rookie of the Year back in 2005. Street has a career WHIP of 1.07 (better than Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes). He’s still eligible for arbitration which means he comes at a pretty modest price compared to most other closers (he made $3.3 last year while Todd Jones made $8.0).
So you may be asking yourself: Why wouldn’t the Tigers try to get this guy? Well, simply put, the Athletics get a lot for trading their players. If the Tigers were to pry Street loose from the Athletics they would probably have to part with at least two or three quality young prospects. The Tigers are not exactly the best equipped team in the game to be parting with prospects. After two seasons of trading off prospects the Tigers Minor League system has been stripped of a lot of talent. I’m just not sure they would clean out the cupboard any more to bring in a closer who lost his job the season before.
My opinion? This is one they should at least consider. If they give up two prospects (probably including some one like Ryan Perry) it’s not like they would be getting an old washed up player (ie Edgar Renteria) in return. They would be getting a closer who is still only 25 years old and has averaged more than a K per inning throughout his career.
On the other-hand, if Oakland GM, Billy Beane is asking too much the Tigers should just walk away and focus on something else. Walk away and move on. Huston Street will not be the difference between an 88 loss club and a playoff birth.
If the Tigers feel like they have a playoff caliber team put together then they should take a peak at Street. If they feel they still need a piece or two to contend then they need to ignore him and wait until they are ready to make a playoff push.
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Like you said Blake, there are teams’ GM’s like beane and the braves, that hold out for and GET the prospects they want from teams for their soon to be FA quality players. I would rather see the Tigers hold on to the likes of Perry, Satterwhite, Marte, Weinhardt, Hamilton, Green, Moscoso, and most definitely Porcello, than trade the quality young talent they scouted and drafted in the past 2-3 drafts.
Also, the Tigers just might be spending carefully this off season. They are looking for “diamonds in the rough” as they have signed several players in the Independent Leagues, most recently Kris Regas a lefthander, and other leftys Josh Kite, Chad Linder, along with righthanders Mike LaLuna, Scott Drucker, and Patrick Stanley.
I guess we will find out soon enough though what the plan is for 2009.
Im not a big fan of the Tigers giving up prospects this year. I think they should try to find a FA for closer if there is anyone available. Also, Blake you are going to lose in fantasy football this week.
Yeah, I guess I tend to agree with you guys. After getting burned on some trades involving prospects it’s probably just better to hold on to the guys we have and play the waiting game.
Kenny, yeah, I probably will lose to you this week. However, the only reason my team isn’t dominating is because I missed the draft. If you are kind enough to hold the draft when I can actually make it next season I will end the season with the title. Fact.