MLB Trade Rumors: Pirates want ‘Chapman-like haul’ for Mark Melancon
The Pittsburgh Pirates could move Mark Melancon, but according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Heyman, the price is quite steep.
Earlier in the week, the Chicago Cubs sent a four-player package to the New York Yankees for All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman to shore up the back end of their bullpen for their playoff run.
According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Pittsburgh Pirates want the same kind of deal for closer Mark Melancon if they are to move him before the Aug. 1 deadline.
pirates would consider melancon trade "if they can get chapman type deal." watson, feliz could close. @Ken_Rosenthal on it.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2016
Heyman credited Ken Rosenthal on the potential Melancon trade, who mentioned a couple of things:
Sources: #Indians, #SFGiants in mix for Melancon along with #Nationals. #Pirates want MLB reliever, 7th-inning type, as part of any deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2016
#Pirates seeking prospect(s) as well for Melancon, per sources. Something for now to keep bullpen strong, something for later.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2016
To line up the reports from Heyman and Rosenthal, the “Chapman-like deal” for Melancon would make sense. Rosenthal mentioned that the Pirates want an MLB reliever and prospects in any deal.
When you compare that to the Chapman deal, it adds up.
The New York Yankees got the Cubs’ top prospect (Gleyber Torres), a late-inning reliever (Adam Warren) and two other prospects in the deal. Melancon isn’t worth what Chapman is worth, but the Pirates want the same kind of deal for a guy who saved 51 games last season and has 30 saves so far this season with a 1.51 ERA.
All three teams mentioned by Rosenthal — the Indians, Giants and Nationals — are all playoff teams (as of now) and recognize how important the back of the bullpen is in October. The Cubs got the big prize in Chapman, but Melancon isn’t a bad consolation for one of those potential teams.
As for the Pirates themselves, they want something to replace Melancon to remain in contention in the NL Central and something in reserve, which is understandable for a 50-save closer. They’re probably not going to catch the Cubs for the division lead, but they’re just three games out in the NL Wild Card race.
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