PHILADELPHIA — The Giants traded Mark Melancon to the Braves before Wednesday’s trade deadline, acquiring two pitchers in the process. Shortly after Melancon was informed that he’d be moving to Atlanta, he spoke with reporters.
“These days are always wild,” Melancon said of being traded. “It usually comes down to the last minute like it did and yeah, I was surprised.”
Melancon had to waive his no-trade clause in order for the deal to get done. The decision to do so was not just his.
“I got a call two hours ago just saying ‘hey, it’s a small possibility,’ this and that. So that’s when I first heard about it. I said give me a few minutes to call my wife, she’s running the show here. But after we talked and realized that it was Atlanta, a really good situation over there, we obviously decided it would be okay.”
According to Robert Murray of The Athletic, the Giants 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.
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.