Braves Reportedly Bolster Bullpen Even More by Acquiring Mark Melancon From Giants
By Mark Powell
Mark Melancon may no longer be the reliable closer we grew accustomed to in Pittsburgh, but the now-San Francisco Giants reliever still has plenty to offer a contending team.
On Wednesday, just an hour before the trade deadline, the Braves pulled the trigger to improve their bullpen, acquiring Shane Greene and now Melancon to add to the back end.
Mark Melancon to the Braves is done, @Buster_ESPN is reporting.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
Melancon is a stable veteran force that the Braves can rely on in critical games down the stretch and the postseason. Common knowledge tells us Greene and his sub-2.00 ERA will slide into the closer's role, with Melancon filling in the seventh or eighth inning, should the Braves choose.
The 34-year-old is averaging nearly a strikeout per inning, and features a respectable 3.50 ERA on the year.
Mark Melancon is owed $14 million next season and a chunk of his $14 million salary for this season. Braves don't have much in the way of dead money to send back. The rest of this deal is going to be innnnnteresting.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 31, 2019
Melancon's price tag is primarily why the Giants wanted to rid themselves of him, as he's due $14 million next season. Atlanta's brass has long been criticized for not spending the money necessary to build a contender. At the deadline, at the very least, they seem willing to do so.