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Another reliever is off the books. After reports that the team has traded left-hander Drew Pomeranz to the Milwaukee Brewers, Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting that the Giants have also moved Mark Melancon in a deal with the Braves, 15 minutes before the trade deadline.
Mark Melancon to the Braves is done, @Buster_ESPN is reporting.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
According to Robert Murray of The Athletic, the Giants have acquired two players in return: reliever Dan Winkler, and Tristan Beck, a starting pitcher who is the Braves’ 30th ranked prospect by Baseball America, and 17th ranked by MLB.
#Braves acquiring Mark Melancon from #SFGiants in exchange for Tristan Beck and Daniel Winkler, sources tell The Athletic.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 31, 2019
The right-handed Winkler, 29, has made 117 appearances with the Braves over the past four seasons, posting a 3.68 ERA and extremely impressive 1.17 WHIP. Beck, 23, also a right-hander, is a Stanford graduate who was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft, and has spent his early career in low-A ball.
Moving Melancon is quite the accomplishment, considering the inconsistent reliever is owed $14 million next season, and a chunk of his remaining $14 million for this season. The Braves are expected to pick up all of that according to Hank Schulman. Melancon waived his no-trade clause in order for the deal to get done.
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 (@hankschulman) July 31, 2019
Melancon was signed by the Giants to a four-year, $62 million contract in 2016 when he was considered one of the best closers in MLB. He has not come close to living up to that contract in his two and a half seasons with the club, losing and never regaining the closer role shortly after being acquired. Melancon posted a 3.67 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 116 relief appearances with the Giants. He has been better recently, not allowing a run and just two hits in his last six appearances.