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After dabbling in closers market, Nationals settle on Mark Melancon

Mark Melancon
Closer Mark Melancon was traded to the Nationals on Saturday (AP)

A year and two days after acquiring Jonathan Papelbon to lock down their ninth inning, the Washington Nationals on Saturday agreed to a trade for Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon.

And what would a stretch run in D.C. be without a jilted closer?

Last year, Drew Storen was demoted, and Papelbon choked Bryce Harper, and the Nationals missed the playoffs and then they traded Storen to Toronto. In the wake of Papelbon’s recent imprecision and their failed pursuit of closer Aroldis Chapman, the Nationals dealt two left-handers – Felipe Rivero, who has great stuff and a 3.67 ERA over two seasons in Washington, and minor-leaguer Taylor Hearn – to the Pirates for one of the more reliable closers in the game.

Melancon has 30 saves against three blown saves (Papelbon has 19 saves and three blown). In the past 2 ½ seasons, Melancon has 114 saves, including a league-leading 51 saves in 53 tries in 2015.

Melancon, like Papelbon, can be a free agent when the season ends. Because he was traded, Melancon will not be subject to a qualifying offer, meaning he will not come attached to a draft pick in free agency.

The Nationals were beaten out by the Chicago Cubs for Chapman, likely because they were unwilling to part with their top prospects, those being Lucas Giolito, Trea Turner, Reynaldo Lopez and Victor Robles. Melancon came cheaper, though Rivero, whose fastball-changeup combination is very effective, will fit immediately into the back end of the Pirates’ bullpen, along with Tony Watson.

The Nationals had dabbled in the closers market for weeks. The situation became more critical over the past week, however, as Papelbon had a decrease in fastball velocity and the following results: three appearances, seven hits, seven runs, four walks, one blown save and two losses. He recorded three outs in those appearances.

Melancon, 31, has a 1.51 ERA and 0.960 WHIP in 45 appearances. He is expected to join the Nationals on Sunday in San Francisco.