The Giants are in the mix to land Pirates closer Mark Melancon, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Giants have been shopping for a late inning reliever, starting with Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, but those talks fell through due to a high asking price from the Yankees.
Sources: #Indians, #SFGiants in mix for Melancon along with #Nationals. #Pirates want MLB reliever, 7th-inning type, as part of any deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2016
Melancon has recorded 30 saves in 33 opportunities, and last season led all of Major League Baseball with 51 saves. Melancon would most likely not be cheap, and Giants beat reporter Henry Schulman speculates Hunter Strickland would be the type of pitcher the Pirates would want in return, along with a prospect or two.
If true, I imagine Strickland in the conversation. #sfgiants https://t.co/oFBOK30Mf7
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) July 29, 2016
To be clear, I'm guessing what ken_rosenthal means is #pirates want ML reliever PLUS prospects. Probably big ones. Melancon.
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) July 29, 2016
Giants closer Santiago Casilla is 22-for-27 in converting save opportunities this season and carries a 3.35 ERA, his highest since 2009 when he was a member of the Oakland A’s.