The trade deadline rumors will be heating up this weekend, and already today there has been a big trade, with Andrew Cashner going to Miami. The first big Pirates rumor was a bit surprising, in that it didn’t involve the Pirates looking at a player, but other teams looking at Mark Melancon, per Ken Rosenthal.
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
It’s important to note that this in no way means the Pirates are trading Melancon. This means multiple teams are pursuing him, including the Nationals. I wrote earlier in the week that trading Melancon would be a good idea, and you can read the full analysis here. The cliff notes of the argument are that Melancon would fetch a big return on the trade market, where pitching is at an extremely high value. The Pirates would also be better off dealing him and getting something for him, rather than keeping him to contend (with their chances being low) and losing him to free agency for nothing this off-season.
But again, we don’t know if the Pirates would actually consider making this move. We just know that other teams are interested in Melancon. Rosenthal also mentions Wade Davis as another team the Nationals are talking about, and there have been rumors that the Royals aren’t likely to sell Davis.
With the high price of pitching, I think the Pirates could get at least one top 50 prospect for Melancon. Aroldis Chapman had more value than Melancon, but also got the number 27 prospect, a controllable MLB reliever, an outfielder who started the year in the top 100, and a lottery ticket outfielder in the lower levels. Melancon won’t get that much, but should get a return equal to the value of a guy rated around 50.
It will be interesting to see whether the Pirates actually make a move like this. Short-term, it would upset the fans, and might not go over well with the players. Long-term, it could make them stronger. And, as Rosenthal adds, they could still try to contend this year with Neftali Feliz and Tony Watson in the late innings.
Trade of Melancon would NOT signal #Pirates are conceding. Could close with Feliz/Watson. Deal worth exploring given potential return.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2016
UPDATE 3:04 PM: Rosenthal has two new updates to the Melancon rumors, adding two other teams to the mix, along with the asking price.
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
The 7th inning reliever would make sense, as it would give them a replacement if they moved Watson and Feliz to the 8th and 9th innings. You’d have to think this reliever would be a guy with a few more years of control than Melancon. And then it makes sense they’d be looking at prospects beyond the reliever, since it wouldn’t make sense for them to only swap relievers.
This sounds very similar to the return they went for when they traded for Melancon in the first place. They dealt Joel Hanrahan and Brock Holt, getting Melancon, Jerry Sands, Stolmy Pimentel, and Ivan De Jesus Jr. Obviously the prospect side of the deal didn’t work out for the Pirates, on either side. But they were much better off with Melancon, rather than keeping Hanrahan around for one more year.
