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The Pittsburgh Pirates Five Best Trades Of The Neal Huntington Era

Aug 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington reacts while watching batting practice before the Pirates host the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington reacts while watching batting practice before the Pirates host the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 17, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Mark Melancon (35) prepares to pitch against the Washington Nationals in the ninth inning at Nationals Park. The Pirates won 2-1 in eighteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Mark Melancon (35) prepares to pitch against the Washington Nationals in the ninth inning at Nationals Park. The Pirates won 2-1 in eighteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Number Three: Pittsburgh Pirates trade relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan and super utility man Brock Holt to the Boston Red Sox for relief pitcher Mark Melancon, and Minor League players Stolmy Pimentel, Ivan De Jesus Jr., and Jerry Sands (December 26th, 2012) 

This was another trade that many Pirates fans criticized at the time, yet has left Neal Huntington looking brilliant. Between 2010 and 2012 Joel Hanrahan was a lights out reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and this included being the Bucs’ closer for the last two months of 2010 along with all of 2011 and 2012. In 198 innings pitched during those three seasons Hanrahan averaged 10.36 K/9, 3.55 BB/9, 0.68 HR/9, and he had a 2.73 ERA.

However, there was writing on the wall in the 2012 season that Hanrahan was going to begin to regress. In 2012, despite a strong 2.72 ERA, Hanrahan had a 4.45 FIP, 4.28 xFIP, his home rate jumped to a career worst 1.21 HR/9, and he had an unsustainable BABIP of .225. Luckily for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Neal Huntington was able to trade Hanrahan for great return before the ticking time bomb that was his right arm exploded.

In 2012 Mark Melancon was awful for the Boston Red Sox. In just 45 Major League innings, he spent big chunks of the season at Triple-A, Melancon had a career worst 6.20 ERA, 4.58 FIP, and 1.60 HR/9. Also, his 2.40 BB/9 and 50 percent ground ball rate were both way off of his career norms. So, it is easy to see why Pirate fans were not fond of this trade.

Well, Joel Hanrahan went to Boston and had elbow surgery after 7 1/3 miserable innings and he has not pitching in the Major Leagues since. As for Melancon, since coming to Pittsburgh he has been one of the best relief pitchers in all of Major League Baseball. In 260 1/3 innings pitched with the Pirates Mark Melancon has a 1.80 ERA, 2.27 FIP, 2.69 xFIP, a 0.93 WHIP, and a nice 6.9 WAR.

This season is Mark Melancon’s fourth in the Pirate bullpen, and it was the third time he was a National League All-Star. Melancon also has 130 saves, which is the most in the National League during this time. This included Melancon being named the National League’s top reliever in 2015.

Even though Stolmy Pimentel is the only other player that the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired in this deal to ever appear in the Majors with the Bucs, Melancon’s contributions alone make this trade a huge win for Neal Huntington. The Pittsburgh Pirates traded away a super utility player and a reliever with a faulty elbow, and in return got one of the absolute best relief pitchers in all of Major League Baseball.

Next: 'Catching' Some Help

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