San Diego Padres may miss Huston Street in 2015

The big surprise of the winter so far has been the San Diego Padres’ aggressive efforts to reshape their roster, in particular building a solid outfield. All through trades, the team has brought in Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, and Justin Upton to suddenly create what could end up being among the best outfield trios in baseball. Instead of heading into 2015 with Seth Smith as their best offensive weapon, he has been moved to a bench role which may be far more appropriate.

Compare the group to the outfield that the Padres employed in 1998, the last time they reached the World Series, and the current group stacks up well. That 1998 season was one in which Greg Vaughn quietly mashed 50 home runs, helping carry the Padres deep into the postseason.

Overall, however, the offense was not a significant factor in the team’s path to the postseason. Contributions came from several different players, but ultimately the main reason why that ’98 Padres were able to reach the World Series may have been their ninth inning guarantee, better known as Trevor Hoffman.

Hoffman saved a career high and league-leading 53 games that season. He blew only one save all year, occurring when he allowed one of two home runs that he gave up all season. San Diego still ended up winning that game.

Calling a team’s closer the heart of a team may seem a bit ridiculous since they generally only pitch an inning per night, working 3-4 nights a week. Once you consider Dennis Eckersley‘s success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Brad Lidge‘s impact on the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies, and Mariano Rivera‘s influence throughout his career the idea sounds a little less ludicrous.

Considering closers can make a team’s heart pump, the one player the Padres may end up missing most in 2015 is their former closer, Huston Street.

Traded this past July to the Los Angeles Angels, the Padres were in a full sell mode when they sent him a few miles north up the California coast. The Padres received four players in return – Taylor Lindsey, Elliot Morris, Jose Rondon, and R.J. Alvarez – but none has spent significant time at the major league level and it remains a mystery as to how hurtful the move could end up being for a Padres franchise that is suddenly on the verge of contention again.

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Street spent two and a half seasons with the Padres and was one player they could always count on. In 131 games, he amassed 80 saves and a 2.03 ERA. Street blew only four save opportunities during his tenure as a Padre.

Street will earn just $7 million in 2015, a huge bargain compared to what many closers of his caliber are commanding in free agency.

Set to close for San Diego in 2015 will likely be Joaquin Benoit. While he has a solid track record as a reliever, he only has 48 saves in his career. Street collected 41 just this past year. Benoit is also seven years older and has thrown over 300 more innings in his career.

Even with a drastically improved offense, the Padres are going to need someone to shut the door at the end of games and it remains to be seen how well Benoit can handle such a responsibility. Too many teams miss out on having a great season due to their lack of a solid closer. It would be a shame if the Padres, after all they’ve done to reshape this roster, get bitten for neglecting one part of the roster that has long been an area without concern.