Red Sox Acquire Melancon For Lowrie, Weiland

[Laser Show]

By Tim Dierkes [December 14, 2011 at 10:33am CST]

 

The Red Sox acquired reliever Mark Melancon from the Astros for shortstop Jed Lowrie and starter Kyle Weiland, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick first tweeted that Weiland was traded in a deal that involved a reliever going to Boston.

 

Melancon, 26, turned in a 2.78 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 71 appearances last season. The right-hander won't be arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season and won't hit free agency until after the 2016 campaign.

 

Lowrie has been drawing a good deal interest from clubs this offseason. Lowrie's name also came up during the Winter Meetings when the Red Sox met with the Rangers and discussed possible trades. In 341 plate appearances for Boston last season, Lowrie hit .252/.303/.382 with six homers. Lowrie mostly split time between shortstop and third base in 2011 but also has experience at first base and second base.

 

Weiland, 25, struggled in 24 2/3 innings in his Red Sox debut this year. At Triple-A, he posted a 3.58 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, and 0.70 HR/9 in 128 1/3 innings. A third-round pick in 2008, Baseball America ranked Weiland 20th among Red Sox prospects prior to the season. BA says the former Notre Dame closer "relishes pitching inside" and his "best pitch is a low-90s fastball that peaks at 95 but is most notable for its hard sink."

[jacksonianmarch]

I am pretty sure most fans on here will be doing an about face on Melancon. Those who were on here from 2007 to 2010 when I was his biggest proponent thought I was nuts. The kid has closer stuff, he just struggled with the bright lights. He dominated in Houston and now gets a second shot at the whole bright lights thing

[Laser Show]

I'll be honest here, I was out of the loop for a few years while I was overseas, and I have no idea who the guy is. Hopefully he can help us out, but we still need at least 1 starter.

[BSN07]

What's the scouting report on him?

[jacksonianmarch]

see the offseason thread

[Gringo]

It's a good trade. MM is young, talented, and has huge upside, and I think we've seen the best of Jed.

 

We needed pitching, we got some.

[Gringo]

I'll be honest here' date=' I was out of the loop for a few years while I was overseas, and I have no idea who the guy is. Hopefully he can help us out, but we still need at least 1 starter.[/quote']

 

He was Houston's closer, so he'll be slotted in as ours right now, or at least until we get Bailey from Oakland....

[DeadHorseSociety]

What's the scouting report on him?

 

92-94, touches 96 with good life on his fastball. His out pitch is a hard 12-to-6 curveball.

 

Video: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=453343

[SoxFanForsyth]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=5965955&c_id=mlb

 

THAT is Mark Melancon. What a douche.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Don't mind losing Lowrie at all. What good is a guy if he can never stay healthy?

 

I think Melancon could be a nice 7th inning or even 8th inning option for this team. I'm not sold on him moving into the role of closer if that's what their plans are.

[SoxSport]

Nice deal here. Melancon has had two pretty good years in Houston, and actually got 20 saves last year.

He's young, may still have some upside, is well-controlled salary-wise and can setup and maybe close. Ground ball pitcher. Out of the Yankee farm system.

 

The Sox gave up Weiland, who is unproven at the ML level, and Lowrie--the race horse who spends most of his time in the barn--and not on the track.

 

I'd be happier with Wandy, but Henry is spending his dough on soccer players this year.

[SoxSport]

He was Houston's closer' date=' so he'll be slotted in as ours right now, or at least until we get Bailey from Oakland....[/quote']

 

fantasy alert.

 

Beane is very tough for AL teams to deal with.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Nice deal here. Melancon has had two pretty good years in Houston, and actually got 20 saves last year.

He's young, may still have some upside, is well-controlled salary-wise and can setup and maybe close. Ground ball pitcher. Out of the Yankee farm system.

 

The Sox gave up Weiland, who is unproven at the ML level, and Lowrie--the race horse who spends most of his time in the barn--and not on the track.

 

I'd be happier with Wandy, but Henry is spending his dough on soccer players this year.

 

Yeah, Wandy costs a lot of money, Melancon is going to cost like $400k. Sox going cheap.

[Spitball]

I wish the sox had traded Lowrie last winter when his stock was much higher. Melancon's K rate in the NL is a concern, but he does appear to be a groundball pitcher. I hope this works out.

[YAZMAN]

I wish the sox had traded Lowrie last winter when his stock was much higher.

 

+1, they already knew he was about as durable as a china doll.

[mvp 78]

-1 Last offseason most of you pencilled him as an above average starting shortstop.

[Palodios]

Does anyone know of any good job opportunities for a software engineer in Houston? I need to move out there to be with my one true love, Jed Lowrie.

[mvp 78]

Does anyone know of any good job opportunities for a software engineer in Houston? I need to move out there to be with my one true love' date=' Jed Lowrie.[/quote']

 

You have to fight Dojji for him.

[Palodios]

You have to fight Dojji for him.

 

Dojji has many loves. I, only have one.

[Emmz]

Dojji's off with Tug Hulett last I heard.

[Spudboy]

Dojji's off with Tug Hulett last I heard.

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!1!!11!11!!!

[RiceLynnEvans]

If the picked up Melancon as a seventh or eighth inning guy, then pretty good move. If they have any plans of using him in a closer role, then WTF? Living in San Antonio, the 'Stros were our local team and we saw a lot of him last year. He's got this wicked curve ball that he relies on a bit too much....and he's got that Paplebon way of turning a simple save into high drama. But, like I said, keep him as a set up guy and the move makes sense.

 

That said, Punto replacing Lowrie SUCKS!