Will the Pirates be persuaded into moving Mark Melancon?
As we get closer and closer to the trade deadline, rumors are starting to pick up. The Nationals will be buying this deadline, as expected, and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports sees them eying a few closers.
Sources: #Nationals talking to #Pirates about Melancon as well as #Royals about Wade Davis. Multiple teams pursuing Melancon.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2016
The decision for the Pirates to trade Mark Melancon will be extremely interesting. On one hand, this is a team two games out of the Wild Card, and could use every MLB piece that they have. On the other, Melancon is a free agent this off-season, the Pirates have depth in the bullpen, and have expressed zero interest in re-signing Melancon this off-season.
Then comes the idea that he may be the best closer on the market with Aroldis Chapman out. This season Melancon has a 1.51 ERA. He has converted 30 of his 33 save opportunities this season and has converted on 114 of his last 123 chances over the last three years.
Given what Chapman hauled in for the Yankees, the Pirates are probably at the very least interested in hearing what some may see Melancon’s value being. As Rosenthal stated, multiple teams are interested in Melancon, and with supply low and demand high, the Pirates can start a bidding war. In the short term, they need a rotation arm to hold down innings for them. However, if they can get something similar to an 18-year old high upside shortstop prospect, the Pirates should not complain. The Pirates may be in a rare situation of being a team that sells off a closer but continues to compete late into the season.
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