On Friday night the Los Angeles Angels bolstered their bullpen after acquiring closer Huston Street from the San Diego Padres in a six-player trade. Street is expected to solve relief pitching issues the Angels have been experiencing for a while.
Last month the Angels attempted to do some patchwork when they traded then-closer Ernesto Frieri for Pittsburgh Pirates troubled relief pitcher Jason Grilli. Just last year, Grilli was one of the best closers in the National League after recording 33 saves with 74 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA. But he's been faced with injuries, and this season he only had 11 saves with a 4.87 ERA with the Pirates.
Grilli has pitched eight innings for the Angels since June 28, but hasn't recorded a save as he has been working behind closer Joe Smith (15 saves and a 2.27 ERA). Despite his solid year, Smith will now likely move to the setup role as Street steps in as the closer. Street has converted 109 of his last 117 save chances, which is the best in the majors over that span of time. This year he has converted 24 of 25 save opportunities with a 1.09 ERA.
The Angels also received prospect Trevor Gott from the Padres and shipped away prospects Taylor Lindsey, R.J. Alvarez, Jose Rondon, and Elliot Morris. The Padres acquired some serious young talent in these players who are all 23 years or younger. Lindsey was rated as the Angels' top prospect, according to Baseball America. But the 58-37 Angels are only 1.5 games back of the Oakland Athletics for the division lead and they're looking to separate from the pack in the second half of the season.
"Huston's going to add to that group of players in the back end of the 'pen that we need to hold leads," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, in this MLB.com article. "As that group keeps growing, we're going to have a chance to really hold leads on a daily basis and not to have to go to guys too much to where maybe they're stretched a bit further than you're comfortable with."
After missing the playoffs last year with a 78-84 record, the Angels are looking to make some noise in the playoffs this year behind the bats of Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, and Albert Pujols and pitchers Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver, and C.J. Wilson.
