Atlanta Braves: Mark Melancon can be vital piece of the puzzle

Closer Mark Melancon is in the final year of his contract, though the Atlanta Braves would be wise to bring him back after the season.

Okay, Mark Melancon may not be the lockdown closer he was a few years back when he was a back to back All-Star in saving 98 games over two seasons. He is however a quality high-leverage pitcher who could shorten the game between the Atlanta Braves starting pitchers and their new closer.

Melancon has 194 saves to his credit and can still get big league hitters out at a high rate. Melancon has spent time with seven different organizations since first appearing with the New York Yankees in 2009.

He has been an effective closer at the majority of these stops, though his tenure with the San Francisco Giants was futile at best. Melancon signed a 4 year/$62M contract with the Giants which they immediately regretted. After two and a half injury riddled seasons where he only saved 15 games, the Giants found someone to eat his remaining salary and return a player or two in a trade.

Enter the Atlanta Braves, and Melancon took over as the closer for Luke Jackson. He pitched well enough to end the regular season, notching eleven saves and striking out more than a hitter an inning.

Melancon imploded in the Game 1 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals before nailing down saves the next two games. He would not pitch again in a series the Braves saw slip away.

In the offseason the Braves signed Will Smith, who coincidentally replaced Melancon as the closer in San Francisco. Smith could close, Melancon could close, Jackson probably won’t close.

If Melancon shifts into the setup role he could be a blessing for the Braves. His track record of recording late inning outs bodes well and can provide depth if Smith needs rest or gets injured.

Entering next year Melancon will be 36 and already has a history of injuries. The market for him as a closer has probably dried up, leaving the Braves with an ideal situation of signing him to a free agent deal to stabilize the back end of the bullpen past 2020.

All of this hinges on how Mark Melancon is used this year and if the results are to the liking of the Atlanta Braves brass. I have to believe if he pitches well there will be mutual interest between Melancon and the club to return in the future.