End of the street for LA Angels’ Huston Street?

The Los Angeles Angels have a club option in 2018 for Huston Street, do they pick it up or buy it out?

The Los Angeles Angels signed sure-handed closer Huston Street to a 2-year, $18 million contract extension in 2015. The contract had Street making $8 million in 2016, $9 million in 2017, and $10 million or a $1-million buyout in 2018.

At the time of his extension, Street’s reputation was well-known, being one of the elite closers in the MLB. To give some perspective, in 2014, an all-star year for him, Street pitched 92 innings combined for the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres and posted an ERA of 1.37.

Unfortunately, the Street of 2014 is well in the past for him and he definitely could see himself becoming a free agent once the 2018 off-season arrives.

The main thing with Street is his obvious health issues. In his last two seasons, Street has only pitched a total of 26 innings. Not worth the price tag of $9 and $10 million a year.

More from LA Angels News

• New York Post columnist has LA Angels bringing veteran starter back to LA
• Dodgers make wild mistake signing failed LA Angels starter
• Why LA Angels’ Qualifying Offer to Raisel Iglesias could become historical
• Both Gold Glove finalists for LA Angels getting snubbed is a complete joke
• Marcus Stroman definitely appears to be interested in the LA Angels

Street was sidelined with numerous different injuries in 2017. First, a lat strain would shelve him for the first two and a half months of the season. Soon after returning from that injury, the closer suffered a right groin strain that disabled him even further. To pour salt on the wound, Street suffered a mild rotator cuff strain while rehabbing a different injury, essentially ending his 2017 season with a total of four innings pitched.

However, Street did not perform that spectacular when pitching for the Angels anyway.

To clarify, Street pitched a total of 22.1 innings with an ERA of 6.45, his worst season by far. Accompany his high ERA with a WHIP of 1.925 and Street became an actual burden for the bullpen.

Want your voice heard? Join the Halo Hangout team!

Write for us!

Given his recent failures of performance and staying healthy, the Angels must buyout his 2018 option. Saving them money for a potential free agent signing to replace Street.

Another key point is that Street will be in his 14 year in the MLB and his currently 34 years old. He’s not getting any younger and his age is catching up with him with the amount of injuries he’s suffered. Besides, the Angels do have a few options at closer already with Blake Parker and Cam Bedrosian.

Blake Parker

Parker was arguably the best Angels reliever in 2017. A heart warming story that saw Parker living in a RV at one point, Parker pitched 67.1 innings posting an ERA of 2.54 and a WHIP of 0.832. The Angels could move Parker into a deeper role such as closer come 2018.

Next: What do the Halos Need to Make it Back to the World Series?

Cam Bedrosian

While Parker could solidify his role as a potential closer, Cam “Bedrock” Bedrosian also has the talent to become a closer. The former first round pick had a career year in 2016. Bedrosian posted an ERA of 1.12 and a WHIP of 1.091. However, Bedrosian then regressed. Bedrosian’s ERA shot up to 4.43 and his WHIP rose to 1.299. Hopefully, Bedrosian can return to his 2016 form and take over the closer role.