Billy Beane ain't done yet, folks.
Rumors have sprung up that teams like the Brewers and White Sox are looking to add the A's talented young closer, Huston Street.
The Brewers seem to be the best fit—they are looking for a consistent pitcher to fill the closer's role that has been a revolving door for the Brew Crew. Brewers GM Doug Melvin has also shown a willingness to trade away prospects to win now, as evidenced by his trade for Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia and, more recently, the trade for the Giants' Ray Durham.
Melvin also has a very deep farm system to work with, and seems to be a perfect trading partner for the rebuilding A's.
The White Sox already have a very strong bullpen, but Beane and White Sox GM Kenny Williams have been frequent trade partners, and a player such as young third baseman Josh Fields may interest Beane. Acquiring Street would make an already formidable Sox bullpen into arguably the most dominant relief corps in the majors.
The A's already have many young arms in the 'pen to take Street's place, such as Santiago Castilla or veteran Alan Embree. In the past, Beane has been known to think of closers as overvalued commodities, and that any pitcher who can throw a clean inning can fill the role.
Beane has had closers such as Jason Isringhausen and Keith Foulke, who both left as free agents, and Billy Koch, who was traded to the White Sox for, you guessed it, Keith Foulke.
The surprise about Street was that Beane had signed him to a contract extension, something rarely given to members of the A's, much less to a closer.
This season, Street has an ERA of 4.19 and 17 saves in 22 opportunities, with a WHIP of 1.16.
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