Boston Red Sox trade Jed Lowrie, Kyle Weiland with Houston Astros for Mark Melancon -MLB Update
Having spent nearly one and a half seasons with Houston to kick off his career was a special place for Mark Melancon, but starting off with a new team next season will be exciting as he was traded to the Boston Red Sox by the Astros for shortstop Jed Lowrie
and right hander Kyle Weiland on Thursday, December 15, 2011.
Melancon made $421,000 last season and will have to bear a low salary amount until he will finally be eligible for arbitration after the 2013 Major League Baseball (MLB) season comes to an end.
For the Boston Red Sox, he is a player who can provide physicality to the game and experience in the ninth inning, a position they had looked to fill up since the offseason kicked off.
“We like his stuff, toughness and experience in the ninth inning,” Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said. “His command and cutter both improved as the year went on.”
Lowrie on the other hand, had been with the Boston Red Sox for the past four seasons straight and was a consistent player on the team. 25-year-old Kyle Weiland was played in only seven games last season, which was his first in the major league.
“They’re going to enjoy getting him,” said Astros manager, Brad Mills, Terry Francona’s former bench coach with the Sox. “They’re getting a guy coming in riding high full of confidence. He’s going to help them do whatever role they want.”
One thing when looking at the trade is where Melancon will fit into the team with Boston. Looking at his style of playing and baseball strategy, Melancon is expected to help boost their bullpen after their closer, Jonathan Papelbon, left as a free agent,
not meaning that he will necessarily replace the lost player, but could help ease the team in filling the gap.
The Houston Astros are also a team looking forward to using the two newly acquired players in the rebuilding process they are currently in the moment, making the next season especially exciting to see.
Witnessing Melancon on the Red Sox roster will certainly be thrilling as the player just possibly might have a breakthrough season next time around.
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