The Rockies have given Huston Street a slight edge over Manuel Corpas to become their closer, but competition in spring training will determine which one begins the season in that coveted role.
Colorado is looking for a closer because Brian Fuentes declined the team's arbitration offer and became a free agent. At the winter meetings earlier this month, the Rockies received inquires from other clubs about Street, who was acquired from Oakland in the November deal that sent Matt Holliday to the A's, but they opted not to trade him. "He has pitched meaningful innings," manager Clint Hurdle said of Street, who has compiled 94 career saves even though he won't turn 26 until August.
Both Street and Corpas began last season as closers for their teams. Corpas lost that role to Fuentes on April 24. At that point, he was 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA and 4-for-8 in save chances with three of those four blown saves coming in his four most recent appearances.
Corpas earned his only four saves of the season in the Rockies' first 17 games. He finished 4-for-13 in save situations with an 11.68 ERA (16 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings) in those games.
Corpas, who went 3-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 76 games last season, turned 26 on Dec. 3. After the 2007 season, when Corpas replaced Fuentes as the closer in late June and saved 19 games for a Rockies team that went to the World Series, Corpas signed a four-year, $8,025,000 contract with club options for 2012 and 2013. He has been working out in Denver this winter, a step the Rockies believe will help him come back from a disappointing 2008.
"I think he came into camp heavy, and I don't think he ever got himself in great physical shape," general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "I don't think in the spring he worked on getting his two main pitches (fastball and slider) locked in, and he started experimenting with the changeup. I don't think he ever truly had his sinker.
"I think he tried to force that instead of making it happen. I don't think he was right all year. ... We know that Street will come in in shape. That will be a good competition."
Street also lost his closing job. Brad Ziegler replaced Street in that role on Aug. 8. Street went 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA, 69 strikeouts in 70 innings and was 18-for-25 in save opportunities. However, after getting over groin and hip flexor injuries, Street went 5-0 with a 1.37 in his final 17 games with Oakland, allowing three runs and 10 hits in 19 2/3 innings.
That's a reason the Rockies have held onto him.
"We lost a guy who struck people out in Brian," O'Dowd said, "but we have added one who has a track record of doing that in Street. We figured he would get attention (from other teams), but we just believe he can help this team."
