11
2012
Street Is Open To Mets Trade, Will Patch Things Up With Geren
An article by 
Yesterday, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the Mets might look to acquire a veteran reliever or two, and possibly a veteran catcher before the July 31 trade deadline, “since they owe it to manager Terry Collins and the players.”
This morning he writes that Huston Street would have no problem joining the Mets and reuniting with Bob Geren.
Street, the Padres’ All-Star closer, went so far as to say the Mets’ bench coach is a “good man,” and even partly blamed himself for their obvious differences when the two were together with the Oakland A’s, differences that led Street to once tell the San Francisco Chronicle that Geren, who managed Street in Oakland, is “my least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports from age 6 to 27.”
Street has read the reports that he’s one of many veteran relievers the Mets are considering to shore up their bullpen, and if the Mets do get Street, Street said he would approach Geren to talk it out. Or as he put it, “If I get to the Mets, that’ll be the first bug I go squash.”
Street is ready to shake Geren’s hand, and work it out. “If I were to get traded to the Mets, it would be up to me to handle it and be professional,” Street said. “I play hard for my teammates, and he’d be my teammate again.”
I’m pretty sure that Street is probably the least appealing relief option for the Mets anyway because he’s too rich for Alderson’s taste.
As I said last week, aim much lower.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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I’m pretty sure that Street is probably the least appealing relief option for the Mets anyway because he’s too rich for Alderson’s taste.
As I said last week, aim much lower.”
Lmao… wow, Just wow… You’re 100% right Joe D. Isn’t that pathetic? The man does not wanna sign good players, does not wanna trade for good players, all it seems he wants to do is go look at a oft injured/cheap as hell list of players available… PATHETIC.. but hey, don’t tell that to his saber followers, he somehow is a good GM. SMH
Very sad but true. Even in a pennant race we cant rely on any moves that could make an impact. It’s hard to imagine that kind of a mentality in New York, but that’s how it is now.
I like this a hell of a lot better than trying to imitate the Yankees without all that pesky winning. The Mets are actually in the playoff hunt legitimately.
Yankees the past 25 years have 5 WS championships and 17 Playoffs app… Yeah, i wouldn’t wanna be like the yankees… They actually invest the money the FANS paid them… They make profit off of the fans and they put that same amount of money back on the field… Meanwhile you like the mets way, fans pay ton of money into the team, they pocket the money, use a small payroll and hope everyone OVERACHIEVE to have a good season.. Not guaranteed playoff app, just a good season… SMH
Like I said, imitating the Yankees without all that pesky winning. How did all those years of a top payroll work out? 3 play off appearances in 13 years? Is that success to you?
And I’m the kind of guy that hates imitating. If you copy someone else, you’ll just be known for copying. No matter how much the Mets win, if they do it by backing up the money truck year after year, they’ll always be the low rent Yankees.
If the Mets win without having to break the bank year after year and do it their own way, they’ll be writing their own story.
again, the yankees org invest the money the fans spent on the franchise… The mets Don’t… Simple economics.. The payroll was shaved up $45 million to help solve an owners personal situation, yet, it seems we will continue to path of shopping at everything 99 cent store
You forgot about the team bleeding $70 million last year. Also, since the owners provide the safety net when the team’s own revenues aren’t cutting it, the owner’s problems are the team’s problems.
“the yankees org invest the money the fans spent on the franchise”
Actually, Steinbrenner invested a lot of his own money at first. People seem to forget that Yankee stadium was pretty empty most of the 80s and 90s.
And you still can’t get out of spend for the sake of spending when even the Yankees don’t do that now.
Actually, Steinbrenner invested a lot of his own money at first. People seem to forget that Yankee stadium was pretty empty most of the 80s and 90s”
Donal, i don’t need to explain how investing money works now do you???? In order to make money, you have to SPEND money… simply economics… Jeez..
No, you have to invest money wisely. Spending money just acquires stuff. That is very different from investing.
MC Hammer spent money. How much is he making now?
And by the way, a lot of Steinbrenner’s best investments weren’t in players. They were in YES and expanding the Yankee brand.
In fact, when he went player shopping, he did a pretty crappy job.
Oh Please your such a bullshit artist….
When have we EVER had a higher payroll than the Yankees? When was the last time we had that? 1986?
Thanks for missing the point, Mr 303 IQ.
What point? Answer the question!
What year did our Payroll ever TOP the league or the Yankees?
Name the year and MAKE the point if you want someone to get that point you don’t have but tried to make anyway!
topped the Yankees, I don’t think they have. If they have, it was back in the early 90s, and we saw how that worked.
By “a top Payroll” I meant as like the top 5 in the league or so. Somehow, even alex realized that.
Are you saying the Mets were not big spenders? Are you saying they were never a top 5 payroll? Or that they were never second only to the Yankees?
Are you saying 3 playoff appearances over the last 13 years are a good return on what was spent in that same stretch?
Stop trying to play your silly little gotcha games. They make you seem even more inept.
Where did you take that IQ test? Was it a Facebook app?
So you really had no point just your usual HAZE meant to make something thats not REALLY true seem like a fact!
Well when we spend AS MUCH or MORE than the Yankees and don’t have success then you might have a point!
But their spending got them all those playoff appearances and WS wins!
And spending less has got us NONE of that!
The one time we actually came CLOSE are the years we made the playoffs and got close…
Not close enough….because we didn’t spend as much as THEY did!
Have you ever seen a post you wanted to reply to really bad, but stopped and said, “hm, maybe I should read the whole thing as well as the other posts so I get the proper meaning and context before I go sputtering around making a fool of myself”?
Because it doesn’t seem like you do and you really should.
That whole idea that I claimed the Mets spend more than the Yankees is total bunk and you are either really stupid for not getting that or you are just trolling.
Either way, I have already wasted too much time on you. Go ahead and take the last word you so desperately need.
Meh, “closing” is the easiest job in baseball and the most overhyped in sports. You don’t really need to go full bore to get a guy who does it.
I’d prefer a better long man, probably a lefty, a right handed bat to play the outfield or maybe some defensive help.
Closing is far from the easiest job in baseball. I dont know what ever gave you that idea. It is the one role in baseball that has the most turnover than any other position in baseball. In addition to needing a great out pitch, you also need the guts and guile to handle the pressure which is why most closers fail.
It has high turnover because people don’t understand sample sizes. Closers are set up for success. If a guy “implodes” it was either he had a bad day got killed by small sample sizes or he simply wasn’t that good to begin with (he isn’t a starter for a reason, after all).
I can’t wait for the next LaRussa to stand up and say “we don’t need to assign our best guy to the 9th inning, when the game is already decided 90% of the time”.
Here’s a whacky idea: why not have 4 guys in your bullpen that you can trot out in the 6th or 7th inning and can go the rest of the game?
Balfor?
I don’t know if I want Street. If he says he can work things out with Geren, then I think it helps.
Ideally I’d prefer a strong middle relief guy to be honest. I think the Mets have really 3 or 4 of the same type of relievers. Parnell, Rauch, Ramirez, Francisco when healthy are all power arms with “closer like stuff”
They need the compliment to that in my view. They need a 6th, 7th inning guy like an old school Heilman type reliever. They do not “need” another closer type pitcher.
But I will say this
I don’t know how accurate Cot’s is here but
12:$7.5M, 13:$9M player option (club may decline and pay $0.5M buyout)
I don’t understand the 2013 contract, how is that a player option if the team can buy out for $500,000?
Assuming Cot’s is right, I disagree about the finances being an issue.
You’re talking about $3,972,200 for Huston Street if you decline his option. That is not exactly a huge financial threat.
I still think they do not “need” him. What they “need” is actually cheaper talent, not for the sake of spending less but a 6/7th inning guy will cost you less than a Huston Street.
It’s not a vesting option which means the team simply pays $500K and they wash their hands if they want to. It’s the vesting options that kill you because they take away the teams decision making power once it vests.
Right, I get that.
But you don’t normally see a Player Option with such a cheap buyout.
To me, that’s a team option.
The ball is in the team’s court there, they control all the power. If Street says I want $9mil, okay here’s 500k, go away?
Whoever his agent is did a bad job there
He was coming back from injury when he signed it though, plus there’;s the history of five seasons with DL time logged.
No look, the contract for him is great. The end is puzzling. Why are you gonna agree to a $500,000 buyout on a player option?
It doesn’t make sense. It’s just confusing thats all.
it makes sense. They agreed on a non-guaranteed deal essentially. If he is on the team, he makes 9mill. If he isn’t, he gets 500K to go away.
Having this as a player option is actually in his favor. If he has a huge year, he can walk away to sign a better deal. If this was a team option, he would be locked into it.
yeah I guess agree to disagree, because frankly I don’t see Huston Street having such a good year that he walks away from $9million. I mean heck Papelbon is making $11m and he’s got a lot more history of success and health than Street.
Just seems off. I’d bet the Padres loved that buyout clause. Makes him way more tradeable too.
“Aaron Heilman” type reliever..Were you on another planet the years he pitched for us??Who knows if Street is a good fit but i am positive we don’t need another Heilman.As a matter of fact Ruach does a pretty good Heilman impersonation most of the time..
Gary, you’re right. We already have a bullpen full of Heilman’s and Mota’s already and even a good Mel Rojas impersonator in our current bullpen.
If you’re going after an average or below average arm just to appease the fans and make a half-hearted attempt to help the team make a run, don’t insult our intelligence and waste our time.
If that’s the case I’d rather they do nothing and take our chances with the guys Minaya left us like Mejia and Edgin instead.
Man you guys are brutal!
If the Mets had a bunch of 2005-2007 Heilman’s, they wouldn’t need a bullpen arm.
2005: 53G, 3.17 ERA
2006: 74G, 3.62 ERA
2007: 81G, 3.03 ERA
You’re telling me if I told you I can get you a reliever who can give you those #s you say “no thanks we have enough of those guys”?
Huston Street had a 3.86 ERA in 2011!!!
Do you know how many pitchers appeared in 81+ games in 2011?
1. Venters.
gary: Sorry but that is totally unfair to Heilman
05-07 he appeared in 208 games, 281 innings, 1.12 Whip, 3.27 ERA.
That’s as good as it gets for a middle reliever over a 3 year stretch. If you want more than that you’re being too greedy.
People remember Heilman for his 2008 season and that is totally unfair. From 05-07 he was one of the best middle relievers in the game.
I challenge you to a duel. 25 paces and you can have your choice of pistols.
“People remember Heilman for his 2008 season and that is totally unfair.”
2008? Really? Game 7, 2006 NLCS? Yadier Molina?
Heilman became our Donnie Moore from then on.
that is fine but its still not fair. The guy was a solid middle reliever for 3 years
honestly, how much interaction will a RP and the bench coach have anyway?
Sigh… Weren’t we supposed to have money now that the wilpons solved their financial issues? No? why in the hell do we care if a player who’s actually GOOD will make about $3 million to help this team? We saved up more than $40 million last year, invest it in crap during the Offseason, yet we somehow manage to be in a good position to make the playoffs, yet, the small market mentality of the GM has rubbed up on some people it seems…
Now erverything is all about what a player makes.. He makes such and such, yea, no.. He’s not worth it.. Or he’s not good.. at that pace if guys like wheeler, harvey, familia etc pan out and become stars, we’d be waving them good buy by year 5 of their career… it’s a pathetic mentality that small market teams use, too bad, we are in NY, where fans deseved to see at least some of the money they spent on the team to be on the field.. To have a good product out there, yet,2 offseasons in a row and nothing but crap have been brought in.
Just because you have a bullet doesn’t mean you need to shoot it.
It would be nice to use that money to bring in good players, not just famous ones. Spending for the sake of spending is what got us into this mess.
Again, i am not talking about spending just to spend.. When jason bay was brought in, he was a good player.. Not sure what happened to him, but he was a good player who was coming from a 36 HR 115+ RBI season. now castillo and Perez were just bad negotiation deals by minaya, but come on, all we’ve done in the past 2 years is sign ift injured cheap as hell players.. And even on the cheap players we overpay to get them..
It’s a sad and pathetic situation here in Queens.. A small market mentality to the fullest..
“When jason bay was brought in, he was a good player.”
Still the wrong player. When that trade was made, the Mets did not need a right handed pull hitter. That deal was made to make a deal.
“It’s a sad and pathetic situation here in Queens.. A small market mentality to the fullest..”
Ya, we should be spending like those winning Cubs, not those loser Rays.
I’ll take a small market mentality (whatever that is) over small minded mentality any day.
You can watch teams that spend a lot. I’d rather watch a team that wins a lot.
by the way, here’s Huston’s street contract situation:
$9M Mutual Option, $500k Buyout…. Not sure where the only player option conversation came from… It’s BOTH the team and player option
No Alex, that is a team option. I get what the contract SAYS
But the power is 100% in the team’s favor. If the buyout was significant then it would be a mutual option… but when you give a team a chance to buy out $9mil by paying $500k, its almost a waste of ink putting it on paper.
so $500 k is a waste of ink???? Lol, come on man.. He is insuring himself with that “option”, i get is not your typical player option or buyout, but maybe it was set up that way due to his injury situation… Had he gotten hurt and not pitch the whole year he still had a million dollar waiting for him… Not the smartest move, but smart nonetheless
It’s a waste of ink because the Padres were probably 99% going to do the buyout when they signed the deal 2 years ago.
A small market team like SD isn’t paying Huston Street $9mil in 2 years. They should have just asked for the $500,000 in his yearly salary and taken off the extended year.
What are 2 likely scenarios?
Street has an amazing year and thinks (foolishly) he can get more than $9m on the market, so he opts out. SD says thanks, good luck and saves $500,000
Or Street has anything but a great year, says he wants the $9m cause he knows he cannot do better elsewhere, SD says “no thanks here’s $500k go buy something nice, good luck”
I’ll say it again….
No point in having a closer who can’t get in the game because our Middle relievers lost the save opportunity or lead for us.
And I don’t see a closer being a top down improvment either considering all your really doing is moving two candidates who are not good for more than an inning down an inning.
You need an MI who can pitch two innings on average or at least more than one inning so you don’t blow up your entire pen on a daily basis!
Both Ramirez and Byrdack are nothing much more than lefty righty specialists which is usually good for one batter and then they are done! Less if they bring in a PH to face them.
Even if your starter makes it through 6, you sure can’t pitch Parnell and francisco an inning a day. SO who goes in when one or the other is unavailable?
Who goes in when the Pitcher can’t finish the 6th?
If they get Street without giving kids you can’t really say it would be a bad move as he is a good player.
But you can’t really say it solves any of the problems we have now either.
A closer is as usless without MI to get you to the save position as a FG Kicker is to a team who can’t get the ball past the 50 Yardline!
Nice to have an option to deal with a situation but you have to be able to get to that situation before he can do what he does!
And without MI help the issue isn’t going to be blown saves it will be having save opportunities!