Angels acquire closer Huston Street from Padres

JOE RESNICK
Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels acquired All-Star closer Huston Street and prospect Trevor Gott from the San Diego Padres for minor leaguers Taylor Lindsey, R.J. Alvarez, Jose Rondon and Elliot Morris in a trade on Friday night.

Street (1-0) has 24 saves in 25 opportunities and a 1.09 ERA in 33 games this season.

“Were it not for the fact that we had the ability to control Huston for a year and two months, it would have been far more difficult to justify giving up the type of package that we gave up to get him,” Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. “We had to get a guy like Trevor Gott included in the deal to replace some of that lost value.

“Huston’s 30 years old, and arguably having his best season as a major leaguer,” Dipoto added. “He’s been one of the more consistent closers in baseball over time and one of the highest percentage conversion guys in the league for a number of years. I feel really strong about his character and what he brings to the clubhouse. It really deepens the back end of our bullpen and it gives us the opportunity to make games shorter.”

Street was unavailable to the Padres during their 5-4 home loss to the New York Mets on Friday night. San Diego (41-55) is in third place in the NL West, 12 games off the pace.

“Losing is a miserable experience,” Street said before the game. “I believe in the Padres’ ownership. They want to win and they are not content with status quo.

“I blame the players for what’s happened here.”

In 10 major league seasons with Oakland (2005-08), Colorado (2009-11) and San Diego (2012-14), Street is 35-27 with 258 saves and a 2.87 ERA.

He has converted 109 of his last 117 save chances, the best mark in the majors in that span.

Street, fifth on the active list in saves and 31st overall, said the Padres were upfront with him regarding the trade talks.

“I asked questions and they gave me direct answers,” said Street, who was acquired by the Padres after the 2011 season. “They were extremely honest, said they were fielding offers, and asked me to not be offended.”

Gott, 21, has split this season between Single-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio. In 39 combined relief outings, he is 2-4 with 16 saves and a 3.56 ERA.

He was chosen as a mid-season California League All-Star.

Lindsey, a 22-year-old second baseman, was the No. 37 pick by the Angels in the 2010 draft. In four-plus minor league seasons campaigns, he has batted .289 with 43 home runs and 209 RBI.

He was rated as the Angels’ top prospect by Baseball America.

Alvarez, 23, has gone 7-4 with five saves in two-plus minor league seasons.

The 20-year-old Rondon was signed as an international free agent in January 2011. The Venezuelan infielder has played in 245 minor league games, batting .300 with 146 runs and 116 RBI.

Morris, 22, has appeared in 28 games — 18 starts — in the Angels system, going 7-6 with a 3.43 ERA.

___

Jay Paris in San Diego contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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