In what is probably the biggest non-Samardzija/Hammel deal of the trade season thus far, the Los Angeles Angels picked up big-time Padres closer Huston Street as part of a six-player trade, with just about all of the Angels’ top prospects (it’s relative, and, OK, I’m exaggerating) heading to the Padres. In addition to Street, the Angels also pick up mildly interesting relief prospect Trevor Gott. The Padres get top Angels prospect Taylor Lindsey, a second baseman, along with shortstop Jose Rondon and right-hander pitchers R.J. Alvarez and Elliot Morris.
Street, 30, is making $7 million this year, and comes with a $7 million team option for 2015. Given his dominance in recent years, and that reasonable contract, I’m actually surprised the Padres couldn’t net more. They got a lot, to be sure – three of the Angels’ top ten prospects – but they had to settle for quantity over quality. The early pundit take, however, is that the Padres did very well. So what do I know?
The market impact here, as far as the Cubs are concerned, is mostly limited to “the Angels got better, how will other teams react.” Since the Cubs were not shopping a closer-level reliever, and since that’s pretty much what the Angels were set on acquiring, there’s not much of a market shift there. But, should the A’s and Mariners feel the push of an Angels team solidifying its bullpen, then maybe the M’s work a little harder to get an arm and a bat, and maybe the A’s work a little harder to upgrade at second base.