Pirates trade Melancon to Nationals for Rivero, prospect
MILWAUKEE — Sitting just three games out of the second National League wild-card playoff spot, the Pirates on Saturday traded closer Mark Melancon to the Washington Nationals for a relief pitcher and a minor leaguer.
The Pirates got Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn, a pair of left-handers with big upside. Both pitchers also have minimum-wage salaries and will be under club control for several years.
“We're not giving up on anything,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We're not lowering the bar. We're not settling. Our organization made a baseball trade with confidence that our bullpen is going to be in a good place. We're going to be able to compete this year, (and) we're going to be able to add to our competition level in years to come.”
Rivero, 25, is expected to join the Pirates in time for Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He will step into the seventh-inning role ahead of setup man Neftali Feliz and new closer Tony Watson.
“He's a young kid we've thought a lot of,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters. “He's kind of grown up in our system and became a big leaguer. He's got a good arm, and he's going to have a great career.”
Hearn, 21, was assigned to the Low-A West Virginia Power. He has been working as a reliever while recovering from a foot injury, but the Pirates plan to develop him as a starter.
Melancon, whose 114 saves since the 2014 are the most in the majors, is making $9.65 million and will be a free agent this winter. He will replace Jonathan Papelbon as closer for the Nationals, who lead the NL East.
“This has been a blast,” Melancon said. “Pittsburgh has a special place in my heart. The experiences we've had are running through my mind — wild-card games, big games that we've been in. It's an honor to be a Pirate and say that we got to go through those experiences together.”
The Pirates acquired Melancon in December 2012 when they sent closer Joel Hanrahan to the Boston Red Sox. Melancon became Pittsburgh's closer in June 2014 when Jason Grilli was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels.
“Our goal in this move is to attempt to continue that chain of quality production,” general manager Neal Huntington said. “We've dealt from an area of strength and strengthened our future without changing our goals for this season.”
Huntington listened to offers for Melancon last winter, knowing the Pirates had practically zero chance of re-signing the closer once he hit free agency.
This move was completed about 49 hours before the 4 p.m. Monday nonwaiver trade deadline.
“We felt this was a better time (to trade Melancon),” Huntington said.
The Pirates are off the hook for about $3 million of Melancon's salary. That money could be used for another deal to land a starting pitcher.
“We'll look to reallocate it, and if there's something out there that makes sense for us, absolutely,” Huntington said. “We're still working the phones to see if there is something we can add.”
Hurdle revealed the trade to the players' leadership council in the afternoon, then told the rest of the team during a closed-door meeting.
“This is the way this business moves,” catcher Francisco Cervelli said. “We're all going to miss him, but we've got to keep moving forward.”
Said Watson: “It definitely hurts, but we're not in a position to make those decisions. Our job is to go out there and play and compete and try to win as many games as we can.”
In 47 games with the Nationals this season, Rivero had a 4.53 ERA, one save and a 1.17 WHIP. He averages 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings but also has occasional control issues.
His pitch mix consists of a fastball that sits at 96 mph, a slider and changeup. That fastball touched 100 mph on July 17 when Rivero tossed three scoreless innings against the Pirates in an 18-inning game in Washington.
Rivero is making $516,000 and won't be arbitration eligible until after the 2017 season.
Hearn was the Nationals' fifth-round pick in 2015. The Pirates drafted Hearn in the 22nd round in 2012, but he did not sign.
Hearn went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in eight games (two starts) at Low-A Hagerstown. He began this season in the Gulf Coast League but was promoted after making two starts.
Some evaluators say Rivero has the stuff to someday be a closer. Huntington, however, was noncommittal.
“That label is earned,” Huntington said. “Do we see quality stuff? Do we see strikes? Do we see swing-and-miss? Do we see things that late-inning relievers have? Yes, we do. That's very intriguing to us.”
When Melancon gave Watson a goodbye hug in the clubhouse Saturday afternoon, he also passed along the closer's duties.
The Pirates' ninth-round pick in 2007, Watson has been groomed for the late-inning role. He owns five career saves (although none this season) and a 2.48 ERA.
“I told (Melancon) thank you for the 3 1⁄2 years that I was able to set up for him,” Watson said. “We've had a good run at the back end. Now we'll just bump up a couple innings and see how it unfolds.”
Rob Biertempfel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BiertempfelTrib.
