Smokin' Hot Stove: San Diego Padres Get Huston Street from Colorado Rockies

Huston Street (best porn name in baseball, bow-chicka-wow-wow) was acquired by the San Diego Padres Wednesday for a player to be named from the Colorado Rockies.

Upon the departure of Heath Bell to the talent-hoarding Miami Marlins, the Padres found themselves without someone to shut the door on all those save situations they'll be experiencing next season. Naturally, the first team they turned to was the Rockies, who recently acquired Kevin Slowey from the Minnesota Twins for whatever reason. Clearly, Rafael Betancourt can handle himself in the ninth inning.

So, the two sides agreed that San Diego would take on the remaining chunk of Street's contract, valued at roughly $7.5 million for next season with an extra $9 million club option or a $500,000 buyout for 2013. All of this in exchange for a minor league PTBNL within the next six months, who is always hoped to be of equal value by the receiving team, but rarely is.

The 28-year-old righty went 1-4 with 29 saves and a 3.86 ERA with the Rockies last season.

We've always liked Huston Street. First of all, he's a closer and closers are hot, with a few exceptions. *cough* Matt Capps *cough* Second, he plays guitar. Everyone knows chicks can't control themselves around musicians. Third, we've never once heard him bitch about anything. We hate men who complain. The only thing that's rather fishy is that he claims to be a wine connoisseur.... not sure that we trust men who drink wine.

[Colorado Rockies]

Huston Street Believes in the Rockies

Huston Street and the Colorado Rockies finalized their three-year, $22.5 million contract negotiation Wednesday. The deal could be worth up to $31 million over four seasons, including a $9 million option for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout if the club decides they can do better.

"We want to stay together," he said. "Everybody believes in what we’ve got going here. We’ve got a good thing going here."

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Happy Hollidays

For whatever reason, the Oakland Athletics have decided to add a superstar rather than ditch one.

The Colorado Rockies have dealt big bat-wielding outfielder Matt Holliday to the ever-rebuilding A's, for reliever Huston Street, lefty starter Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

Avoiding Arbitration

Baseball fans across the country look forward to February with breathless anticipation for one reason: no, not Spring Training... arbitration! Nothing else can match that excitement of seeing a press release announcing the date for a player's arbitration hearing, or a press release announcing the conclusion of the arbitration period. That's entertainment!

So it is with great sadness that I must report that 22 of the 110 players who filed for salary arbitration this offseason came to terms with their respective clubs by Thursday-- thus depriving fans of the fun of following the oh-so-very interesting machinations of the arbitration process. It's like killing Christmas!

Full list of the grinches in question, and the amount of their contracts, after the jump.

Jose Bautista ($1.8m) - Pirates
Chris Capuano ($3.75m) - Brewers
Gustavo Chacin ($725,000) - Blue Jays
Joe Crede ($3.5m) - White Sox
Scott Downs ($10m/3 years) - Blue Jays
Jason Frasor ($1,125,000) - Blue Jays
Jimmy Gobble ($1,312,500) - Royals
Jonny Gomes ($1,275,000) - Rays
Mike Gonzalez ($2,362,500) - Braves
Omar Infante ($1.4m) - Braves
Jason Kubel ($1.3m) - Twins
Brad Lidge ($6.35m) - Phillies
Ryan Madson ($1.4m) - Phillies
Tim Redding ($1m) - Nationals
Juan Rivera ($2,025,000) - Angels
Marco Scutaro ($2.65m/2 years) - Blue Jays
Huston Street ($3.3m) - Athletics
Brian Tallet ($640,000) - Blue Jays
Mark Teixeira ($12.5m) - Braves
Marcus Thames ($1,275,000) - Tigers
Matt Treanor ($705,000) - Marlins
Tyler Yates ($800,000) - Braves

[Yahoo!]

Huston Street Lands on the DL

The Oakland Athletics placed Huston Street on the 15-day disabled list today with irritation in his right ulnar nerve, retroactive to Sunday. Thankfully, initial tests showed no structural damage.

The 23-year-old righty is 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 18 relief appearances, recording all nine of Oakland's saves this year. He has not given up a run in 15 of his 18 outings this year.