Jeff Luhnow's First Trade a Winner!

Melancon for a SS and a potential Starting P?  Good Initial Deal for Luhnow

The Houston Astros made their first deal under the Jeff Luhnow regime as GM and it appears to be a good one.  While no trade can be fully evaluated until time passes the acquisition of shortstop Jed Lowrie and 25 year old pitcher Kyle Weiland from the Red Sox for pitcher Mark Melancon could be a winner for both teams.

Melancon was pressed into duty as the Astros closer in 2011 and acquitted himself well.  He saved 20 of 25 chances and recorded a solid 2.78 ERA.  On a team destined to compete for a pennant in 2012 he would not be a player that might be vulnerable in a trade.

But the Astros don’t figure to be quite ready in 2012.  They already have a closer in Brandon Lyon they are committed to pay $5-million and they needed more competition at short stop and in the starting pitching rotation.  They got what they needed at the expense of Melancon.

If one only looks at numbers the deal seems favorable to Boston.  Lowrie is only a career .254 hitter and has had several injuries (wrist, shoulder) and an illness (mononucleosis) that have kept him on the sidelines. He is not young.  The former Stanford star will turn 28 shortly after the 2012 season begins. At the same time scouting reports on the former first round pick and switch-hitter are very favorable.  Analysts around baseball are saying this was a good move for both clubs.  The Red Sox have a current and future shortstop in the system.  Lowrie was expandable if the club could get a proven relief pitcher capable of working as a set up man or closer. 

Lowrie’s addition means the Astros do not have to turn the shortstop spot over to a player who showed he could play in the major leagues, Angel Sanchez, but with holes in his overall game.  Sanchez showed with regular at bats he could hit well enough, but with no power.  On defense he has good hands, but poor range and arm.  On the bases he is very slow.  Lowrie is not considered a gold glove candidate, but has much more power, a better arm and foot speed.  The deal fits within the mantra of “doing the best you can for the least you can” in the building of the 2012 Astros.  Just at the shortstop position this is a step up.

If the Astros can pull off deals shedding the large contracts of Wandy Rodriguez and/or Brett Myers the acquisition of Weiland to compete for the starting rotation could turn out to be huge as well.

Mark Melancon is one of the classiest guys in baseball.  From that stand point he will be sorely missed in the Astro club house.  Everyone wishes him well in Boston.  Everyone also hopes to see big things from Lowrie and Weiland.