SF Giants Rumors: Nationals could try to get Mark Melancon back

In the latest on the SF Giants rumor mill, the Washington Nationals could reportedly try to get Mark Melancon back in a trade.

The latest in the SF Giants rumor mill doesn’t have anything to do with the left-field situation. While that could be the hot-topic in the next couple months, and odd storyline is starting to emerge.

In a report from Jon Heyman today, the Washington Nationals are starting to make calls around the league on closers. That in itself is not entirely surprising, given the fact they missed out on all of the potential closer moves this offseason.

The odd thing in this report is that they apparently have discussed internally about bringing back Mark Melancon. Here is what Heyman’s report on FanRag Sports says:

They have spoken internally about many possibilities, though, including Kansas City Royals closer Kelvin Herrera, Tampa Bay Rays closer Alex Colome, San Francisco Giants closer Mark Melancon, Miami Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, and Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna.

The big thing here is that they’ve “discussed internally.” It does NOT mean that Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo has actually placed a call to Bobby Evans’ office. But could you imagine? How would that call go?

Bobby: “Hello?”Mike: “Hey man, how you doing?”Bobby: “Good. Have you thought about our offer for Harper?”Mike: “I actually have something else in mind. What would it take to get back Mark Melancon?”Bobby: *silence*Mike: “Bobby……you there.”Bobby: *whispers* “Bryce Harper”Mike: *click*

Bobby Evans would more likely than not laugh hysterically and then hang up the phone. The Nationals’ farm system isn’t that great. It would likely take a current position player who could make an immediate impact on the Giants for Bobby Evans to even remotely consider the thought. But really, that’s no fun. If there were a trade I would want Evans to pull the trigger on that doesn’t include Bryce Harper (sad face), it would be this:

More from Around the Foghorn

• SF Giants activate 2B Donovan Solano, option Thairo Estrada
• SF Giants place closer Jake McGee on IL, recall Jay Jackson
• Podcast: SF Giants drop pair against Padres, gear up for Atlanta
• SF Giants: Checking in on the Tony Watson trade
• San Francisco Giants fans need this Captain Brandon Belt shirt

• Nationals get Mark Melancon
• Giants get any 2-3 player of these four prospects: Victor Robles, Erick Fedde, Andrew Stevenson, Sheldon Neuse
• Giants get 1-2 of any of their prospects ranked towards the bottom half of their Top 30, OR Michael Taylor

National’s people may read this and think we’re crazy, and we are. But frankly, Rizzo is just as crazy for thinking to trade for someone he easily could’ve signed in the offseason. Melancon, who has been a top three closer in baseball is under contract for at least a couple years.

The Giants need some help in stocking for the future. It really isn’t that crazy, considering how valuable Melancon is to the Giants. But a massive prospect haul would be enough for Evans to part with their closer. Their thought could even be that they would flip a couple prospects for a different closer option like Colome, or Herrera who will likely be available at the deadline.

Next: How the Giants top 10 prospects are faring in 2017

Just to be clear, this is all a whole lot of speculation. It’s fun running away with trade ideas. Frankly, the Giants would have to be guaranteed a haul like the one mentioned above, for Bobby Evans to NOT hang up the phone on Rizzo while laughing hysterically. The Nats will most likely look elsewhere, as they should. But what if the Giants could really get that haul back?