Huston Street Has Lost His Job

There were plenty of rumors swirling throughout baseball that the Oakland Athletics were looking to trade their closer Huston Street before the deadline, with the latest rumor being a deal with the Chicago White Sox, but when the deadline passed Huston was still a member of the Oakland Athletics. Though now Street is probably wishing he had been dealt.

Why? Because he is no longer the only closer in Oakland, as he's now going to be sharing the role.

The move undoubtedly is spurred by Street's difficulties this season salting away victories, though Geren went to great lengths Saturday to de-emphasize those struggles.

"I actually talked with (Street on Friday) and just said with the way [Jerry] Blevins is throwing and [Brad] Ziegler is throwing, I could potentially use anybody in any situation right now," [Manager Bob] Geren said.

Street has had some struggles this season, converting 18 of his 23 save chances, which gives him the lowest save percentage of any closer in the American League. Still, Street's been pretty effective for the A's in his career, and considering that the team traded away anybody who could help them win this season, I'm kind of surprised to see they suddenly care about it now.

As you would expect, Huston isn't exactly thrilled with this development.

"I would say I'm extremely unhappy about it," Street said Saturday. "(Closing is) what I've done my whole career. Do I think I've been as good as I've been my whole career? No. But I still think there's two months left in the season for me to prove myself . . . or prove myself to them."

Street is eligible for arbitration again this off-season, but given the fact that the Athletics have parted ways with 60% of their starting rotation in the last year, I get the feeling he's not going to be wearing an Athletics jersey in 2009. There will be plenty of teams interested in adding him to their bullpen this winter.