Pittsburgh Pirates Finalize Trade of Joel Hanrahan to the Boston Red Sox

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired right-handed pitchers Mark Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel along with outfielder, first baseman Jerry Sands and infielder Ivan DeJesus from the Boston Red Sox.

Melancon is one of the key pieces that we initially see in the deal. The hard throwing reliever has racked up 21 saves over 147 relief appearances with the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. After struggling in a big way with the Sox in 2012, he posted stellar numbers with the Triple-A farm Club Pawtucket including eleven saves and barely giving up any runs.

Sands is the big upside player the Red Sox acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right handed power hitter was named the Minor League Player of the Year in 2010 after crushing 35 bombs and hitting just over 300. During the 2012 season he crushed 26 bombs.

DeJesus, Jr. also was with Albuquerque in 2012 where he played sixty games and hit .295. When he was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket, he had ten hits in 26 at-bats.

Pimentel made 22 starts with Double-A Portland in 2012.

The Pirates also included Brock Holt in the deal. Holt was initially electric in providing the Bucs with some some resemblance of offense (#INFIELDHIT) during his call-up last season with the Bucs. However, it was apparent the glove still needed some seasoning although it does appear that his bat will certainly play at the big league level.

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