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Buc stopper’s here: Nats bolster bullpen
- Updated: July 31, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO — The Nationals made acquiring bullpen help their top priority prior to Monday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline. They addressed that need Saturday afternoon, completing a trade for right-hander Mark Melancon from the Pirates in exchange for left-handers Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn.
The deal allowed the Nationals to acquire a closer without giving up any of the top prospects they deemed untouchable before the deadline.
“We put a lot of work into a lot of different ideas and deals — this one made the most sense for us,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “He’s a known commodity and he’s a successful late-inning reliever and a guy we had followed for years. A good makeup guy. Battle tested and one of the elite relievers in the game.”
Melancon, who is expected to join the team here Sunday, has emerged as one of game’s premier relievers since the start of 2013. He owns a 1.80 ERA since then (the best in the Majors among relievers with at least 200 innings) with a 5.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio while surrendering just nine homers in 260 1/3 innings (0.31 ratio leads the Majors). This season has been just as strong for Melancon, who has 30 saves in 45 games with a 1.51 ERA while opposing hitters are hitting .205/.252/.265 against him. Among pitchers with at least 200 batted balls during the Statcast™ era (2015-present), Melancon generated the lowest exit velocity.
Washington missed out on acquiring right-hander Aroldis Chapman before he was traded to Chicago, after the Nationals were unwilling to part with their top prospects such as Lucas Giolito, Trea Turner, Reynaldo Lopez and Victor Robles. So their focus shifted to Melancon, 31, who will become a free agent after this season. Traditionally, the Nationals have stayed away from trading for players during the season who are set to become free agents, but Rizzo made an exception in this case.
“I just think that his resume and his performance level dictated that he was a guy to really go after and attack,” Rizzo said. “Although we’ll …
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