Huston Street: Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

Huston Street warms up in bullpen. Credit: Kathy Whelan

When Huston Street first burst into the major leagues in 2005, he converted 23 of his 27 saves attempts while striking out 72 batters; Street would end his first season with a 1.72 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 78 1/3 innings securing him Rookie of the Year honors.

Fast forward, Street now playing in his tenth season, and he has struggled to see the postseason. He has only been to the postseason twice in his career, in 2006 (Oakland Athletics) and 2009 (Colorado Rockies). Both of those postseasons ended with Street’s team taking the loss, thus ending another season without a World Series ring.

2014 will be Streets eighth season missing the playoffs–that is if he remains a Padre for the rest of the season. Sorry Padres’ fans, but it doesn’t look good. A good player on a bad team can only mean one thing, trade rumors. The rumors will only continue to grow as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches with the Tigers and Orioles among the many good offensive teams lacking in the bullpen department.

Street has a modest $7 million dollar salary, which only makes him more attractive to potential suitors. A big market team like the Tigers wouldn’t bat an eye at adding such a low salary, if it meant a better shot in the playoffs. Will Street stay or go? He doesn’t have a no-trade clause, so the ultimate choice is not up to him.

That leaves GM Josh Byrnes; he is the one to decide whether to wave the white flag and trade for the future. Will he trade Street for a few lower-level minor leaguers, similar to the return the Padres got from Texas for Mike Adams? Or will Byrnes hold his cards and not play a hand? Only time will tell.

Keep the Faith.