Red Sox Trade Deadline: Nine targets you might hear in rumors
By Damian Dydyn
The Relievers
Mark Melancon, RP – San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants may not be willing to sell on Mark Melancon. They’re a game below .500 but just four back in their division. That said, they’re a game below .500, so they should at least consider heading in the seller direction. Assuming they do, the Red Sox could seek a reunion with Melancon who spent the 2012 season in Boston. His time in Boston didn’t go well, but since leaving in a trade that brought back Brock Holt, he has been nothing short of excellent.
In the four years that followed his departure from the Red Sox, Melancon posted ERAs between 1.39 and 2.23. His ERA last season was 4.50 in an injury-plagued campaign. He started this season on the DL, but rides a 2.70 ERA toward the end of the June, looking like his usual self. Melancon would slide in behind Craig Kimbrel as the team’s best set up option if he were to be acquired. The price would likely include Michael Chavis or Jay Groome since Melancon has control through the 2020 season. He would also give the Red Sox an internal option for replacing Kimbrel, should he leave in free agency.
Joakim Soria, RP – Chicago White Sox
Over the course of his career, Joakim Soria has been a solid setup man, and at times, a closer. His career 2.86 ERA is anchored mostly by his early seasons with the Royals. From 2007 through 2010 he was one of the most dominant arms in the game. What is he today? Over the last four and a half seasons he has a 3.34 ERA and tends to strike out a little more than a batter per inning. His walk rate has fluctuated but sits at a pretty 1.67 on the year thus far.
As a setup man, he mixes well with Joe Kelly and would push Matt Barnes back fully into middle relief. He’s of melting down from time to time, but he hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 18. The White Sox clearly aren’t expecting to compete this season, and would certainly listen to offers. Soria is under control through the end of the year with a mutual option for 2019.