Mark Melancon, 2015’s Trevor Hoffman Award winning closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates is supposedly one of four big ninth inning guys available for trade.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes that Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon is one of four All Star-caliber closers that are available for trade heading into winter meetings. Melancon is a two-time All Star for the Pirates and won the Trevor Hoffman Award in 2015 as the best closer in the National League. He had an MLB 51 saves, a WHIP of 0.926, an ERA of 2.23, and an ERA+ of 173.
Mark Melancon’s supposed availability comes from two rival general managers that spoke with Heyman. One general manager said, “Everyone’s closer is available. People, especially the young general managers, have no fear of trading their closer.”
Melancon joins the Cincinnati Reds‘ Aroldis Chapman, the New York Yankees‘ Andrew Miller, and the San Diego Padres‘ Craig Kimbrel as the biggest closer names supposedly on the market. Advanced baseball statistics have shown over the years that saves are the most inefficient statistic in baseball and that any number of players can become suitable ninth-inning guys in the right situation.
With Melancon’s availability, it truly brings home the notion that closers aren’t as valuable as fans tend to think they are. Should Pittsburgh part ways with Melancon, he would follow Kimbrel as a reigning Trevor Hoffman Award-winner being shipped elsewhere by his former employer. Kimbrel made a name for himself as the best closer in baseball from 2011-14 while with the Atlanta Braves.
Interestingly, Miller of the Yankees won the AL equivalent this season in the Mariano Rivera Award. Miller has had an up-and-down career in the Big Leagues, but is coming off his best season as a professional. Though Melancon was statistically better in 2013, he still is one of the best closers in baseball. Closers are apparently on the move this winter and Melancon’s name has now been thrown into the ring.