Mark Melancon was the top closer in the National League this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but in a weak market for closers in free agency, he’s expected to garner some interest from teams looking to bolster their bullpens in a trade.
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Melancon Reportedly on the Trade Market
Tuesday, Nov. 10
On Tuesday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that, “According to two rival GMs, the Pirates’ Mark Melancon, the top closer in the National League this year and winner of the Trevor Hoffman award, is also out there for the taking.”
“Everyone’s closer is available,” one unnamed general manager told Heyman. “People, especially the young GMs, have no fear of trading their closer.”
Melancon, 30, went 3-2 in 2015 with a 2.23 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 62 strikeouts and 51 saves in 53 save opportunities. He’s turned himself into one of the game’s finest closers for the Pirates over the past two years, with a combined total of 84 saves in that time.
The fact that Melancon is reportedly on the trade block is somewhat surprising. He’s become a reliable stopper for the Pirates in the ninth inning and has played a huge part in the team reaching the postseason the past three seasons.
But if teams clamoring for help at the back-end of the bullpen are willing to overpay to land a player like Melancon, the Pirates certainly have to at least entertain the notion of dealing him.
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