Atlanta Braves acquire Mark Melancon from San Francisco Giants
Minutes before the trade deadline bell rang, the Atlanta Braves added yet another formidable piece to their bullpen.
First reported by Jeff Passan and Buster Olney of ESPN, the Atlanta Braves acquired Mark Melancon from the San Francisco Giants for Daniel Winkler and prospect Tristan Beck.
The 34-year-old veteran carried a 3.50 earned run average in 46.1 innings for the Giants this year, but has been particularly strong recently allowing just one earned run in his last 10.1 innings.
He has also given up just three home runs this season.
Melancon was a two-time All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates and saved 51 games for them in 2015 and then was traded to the Nationals at the 2016 deadline, before signing a four-year $57 million deal with the Giants the following offseason.
His time with the Giants was largely viewed as a disappointment as he compiled an ERA of 3.74 and a total WAR of 0.8, but with the way he has pitched recently, along with his track record, this is a solid move for the Atlanta Braves.
Melancon is under control through next season and is due to make $14 million next year and around $4+ million the rest of this season.
There is a good chance the Giants will be sending some money to the Atlanta Braves in this deal
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UPDATE: Perhaps not… Liberty Media just spent some cash:
I'm hearing #braves are taking on all the rest of Melancon's contract, about $18.3 million. Double-checking to be sure. But that's what I've heard.
— Henry Schulman BLUE CHECK MARK (@hankschulman) July 31, 2019
Schulman has now confirmed this hearsay.
Meanwhile, there was also the pesky ‘no trade’ clause that Melancon had. Apparently this was quickly dispensed with:
Melancon said he had “about 12 seconds” to make a decision about waiving his no-trade clause. Grateful to Giants, wish he had been heathier, excited to join a division leader with so much talent in Atlanta.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 31, 2019
For the first three months last season, Winkler was great, as he had an ERA of 2.41 on July 1st, but the rest of the year was a struggle, as he had an ERA of 4.73 through the rest of the season and that carried over to this year.
In 21.2 innings this season he has an ERA of 4.98, a WHIP of 1.338, and a FIP of 5.86 and currently had a 4.86 with Triple-A Gwinnett.
According to MLB Pipeline, Beck, who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 draft, was the Braves 17th best prospect.
The right-hander out of Stanford was 2-2 with a 5.32 ERA in stints in rookie ball and High A this season.
Next. Braves get their closer. dark
He figures to now be a top 10 prospect in the Giants depleted farm system.