Angels give closer Huston Street $18M for 2 additional years
AP Photo/Alex Gallardo
Los Angeles Angels closing pitcher Huston Street reacts after the last out was made during the ninth inning to defeat the Houston Astros 3-1 in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 | 6:39 p.m.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Huston Street had little desire to go back on the free-agent market this winter when he was already comfortable with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Angels agreed to a contract with their closer on Wednesday that adds two additional seasons through 2017 and guarantees $18 million.
"You want to be where you want to be," Street said before the Angels faced Colorado.
The 31-year-old Street has been outstanding in the Angels' bullpen since joining the club from San Diego last July 18. He earned 17 saves last season down the stretch with Los Angeles, and he has 11 saves already this season with a 3.29 ERA.
Earning $7 million this season, Street will get a $4 million signing bonus, with half payable by Nov. 15, 2016, and the rest by Nov. 15, 2017. He gets salaries of $6 million in 2016 and $7 million in 2017.
Los Angeles has a $10 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. The deal includes a limited no-trade provision.
Street has been one of baseball's elite closers since 2005, when he was the AL Rookie of the Year for Oakland. He had at least 16 saves in each of his first 10 major league seasons, also playing in Colorado and San Diego before joining the Angels for the playoff push last summer in a six-player trade.
"I think as a manager, your I.Q. is tied to your bullpen, and a guy like Huston has a history of making his manager look smart," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "So we're excited. He's a guy you can build around for a couple of years. A guy with his track record, I think you can project what he can do for us in the next couple of years, and it's great to have him."
Street immediately stabilized Los Angeles' rocky bullpen last season, playing a major role in the Angels' run to the majors' best record with 98 victories. He didn't appear to allow contract talks to affect his performance this season, going 2-1 and converting 11 of 13 save opportunities.
Street was vocal about his desire to stay with the Angels, hoping to get stability for his family in the second half of his career.
Street has the highest save conversion rate in the majors over the past five seasons, succeeding in 137 of 149 opportunities. He has 286 career saves in 332 chances and a 2.83 ERA.
He is one of four relievers with at least 200 saves and 600 strikeouts in the past decade, joining Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon and former Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez.