Relief Pitcher #4
Mark Melancon (with Pirates from 2013-2016)
10-10, 130 SV, 1.80 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 260.3 IP, 151 ERA+ (with Pirates)
Melancon didn’t spend much time with the Pirates, but he made the most of the time he had. The Pirates picked him up in a trade with the Red Sox before the 2013 season. They traded an “established” closer, Joel Hanrahan, who was a two-time all-star and had 76 saves in the previous two seasons. Melancon was one of four players they got back for Hanrahan (and Brock Holt).
Hanrahan ended up pitching just 7 1/3 innings for the Red Sox in 2013 before an injury shut him down (and ended his career). Melancon had a 1.39 ERA and 16 saves in 71 innings. He was an all-star. In 2014, Melancon had another great year, saving 33 games with a 1.90 ERA.
Those first two years were just previews of what was to come. Melancon had a league-leading 51 saves in 2015. That gave him the team’s single-season record for saves.
After that terrific 2015 season, Melancon was on his way to another great season when the Pirates traded him just before the trade deadline last year. In his three-plus seasons with the Pirates, Melancon had a 1.80 ERA and 130 saves, good for fourth in team history.
It may seem surprising to have Melancon on the all-time 25-man roster for the Pirates, but the options among Pittsburgh relievers are sparse. Melancon is third all-time among Pittsburgh relievers in FanGraphs WAR.
Pittsburgh Pirates All-Time 25-Man Roster:
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Starting Lineup
CF Max Carey
LF Barry Bonds
SS Honus Wagner
1B Willie Stargell
RF Roberto Clemente
3B Pie Traynor
C Jason Kendall
2B Bill Mazeroski
Bench
OF Paul Waner
OF Ralph Kiner
OF Fred Clarke
OF Andrew McCutchen
SS Arky Vaughan
3B Tommy Leach
C Manny Sanguillen
Starting Rotation
SP Bob Friend
SP Babe Adams
SP Wilbur Cooper
SP John Candelaria
SP Vern Law
SP Deacon Phillippe
Relievers
RP Roy Face
RP Kent Tekulve
RP Dave Guisti
RP Mark Melancon
Next: Elite minor league systems
Just Missed the Cut (the next 10 players)
OF Dave Parker
OF Andy Van Slyke
OF Brian Giles
OF Al Oliver
C Tony Pena
2B George Grantham
SS Dick Groat
SP Sam Leever
SP Bob Veale
SP Ed Morris