If there were any questions about whether the Braves needed a starter or reliever more, Alex Anthopoulos answered them before the trade deadline.
Atlanta added Chris Martin last night. Then, pulled off the big deal for Shane Greene, and minutes after landed Mark Melancon from the Giants as well. Jeff Passan broke the news just moments ago.
Mark Melancon to the Braves is done, @Buster_ESPN is reporting.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019
Melancon is no spring chicken. At 34 years old, he’s been in the league for eleven years, bouncing around both the NL and the AL. He’s a three-time All-Star (2013, 2015, 2016), but his days of recording ERA’s south of two are behind him. In his last three seasons with the Giants, he posted a 3.67 ERA in 116 appearances. This year, he is 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA.
The surprising part of this deal, or unfortunate detail if you’re a Braves fan, is that Atlanta will take on the remainder of Melancon’s contract. He is owed $4 million for the rest of this season and $14 million in 2020. Hopefully, that doesn’t alter any plans the Braves have for free agency – like re-signing Josh Donaldson perhaps.
In exchange, San Francisco will be receiving Tristan Beck and Dan Winkler from the Braves. Tristan Beck is a high upside piece out of Stanford. We had him ranked as the Braves #16 prospect. Winkler is another bullpen arm that had fallen out of favor with the Braves after multiple stints in the majors.
For all the complaints surrounding the lack of action at the deadline, the Braves ended it with a boom, acquiring two valuable bullpen arms before the buzzer sounded.