One week ago today, the New York Yankees pulled the trigger on a five-player deal that sent Cuban flamethrower Aroldis Chapman to the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs. With Chapman headed towards a winter that would see him become an impending free agent, the Yankees, who have floated around the .500 mark for some time now, shipped him to the Windy City in an effort to get "younger" as an organization. The stockpile of right-handed pitcher Adam Warren, a proven Major League arm, and three young position players will hopefully aid the process of finding the Fountain of Youth in the Bronx. Meanwhile, Chapman immediately assumed the closer's role for the Cubbies as they look to ride his electric left arm throughout the playoffs and all the way to a World Series title, which would effectively end the 108-year curse of the elusive championship that the franchise has been yearning for since 1908.
The Washington Nationals were not going to let them off that easily, though. The Nationals have been a perennial threat for a World Series themselves since 2012 when they burst onto the scene as a young, hungry, talented ballclub. Their Achilles Heel in two playoff appearances since, however, has been bullpen implosions in both 2012 and 2014. First rounds exits in demoralizing fashions to the St. Louis Cardinals (2012) and the San Francisco Giants (2014) left the Nats with awful, awful tastes in their respective mouths, and are looking to buck the trend here in 2016.
This past Saturday afternoon, the Nationals found their answer, a "counter move" of sorts, to get even with the Cubs. Washington was in discussions with a handful of ballclubs (including the Royals' Wade Davis, Yankees' Andrew Miller, and Pirates Mark Melancon) about their closers to spell Washington's slumping closer, Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon is beginning to show his age, and at age 35 is seeing his effectiveness wane drastically. He has become nothing short of unreliable in the ninth inning, and general manager Mike Rizzo asserted his power and made a move with the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire their lights out closer Mark Melancon, for left-handed relief pitcher Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn, Washington's fifth-round selection in last year's June Amateur Draft.
Melancon has flown under the radar since assuming the closer's role in the Steel City in July of 2013. In fact, since 2013, Melancon owns the lowest reliever earned run average (1.80) in Major League Baseball among late-inning hurlers who have amassed 200 innings, while leading the Bigs in saves in that same timeframe with 128. Melancon will become an immediate staple in the ninth inning for the National League East squad, returning to a playoff atmosphere that the Pirates have not been able to feel the rush off with the historic pace of the rival Cubs.
The most encouraging part of the whole deal is that the Nationals did not have to part with any of their top prospects in the system. In other trade talks, names like RHP Lucas Giolito (WAS' #1 prospect), SS/2B/OF Trea Turner (#2) and RHP Reynaldo Lopez (#4) have been asked in return, which would drastically affect the future of the organization. The fact that the team did not have to jeopardize the loss of any of those legitimate future stars in the process should be just as exciting as the actual trade itself.
With an established closer now anchoring the ninth inning role in the prime of his career, look for the Nationals to jump spots in MLB's Power Rankings as they begin the hunt for another divisional title come August and September. A move like this has to bring joy and optimism to the veterans on the team that lived out the previous playoff meltdowns.
Breathe easy, Washington. For all intents and purposes, Melancon may as well be All-State. He's got you in good hands.
