The Arizona Diamondbacks declined their $5 million mutual option for the 2024 season on right-hander Mark Melancon (shoulder) over the weekend. Instead, Arizona will give Melancon a $2 million buyout as he hits the open market this offseason. The move was entirely expected, as the 38-year-old right-handed veteran reliever missed all of 2023 due to a right-shoulder strain. Melancon is a four-time All-Star and has 262 career saves in 14 seasons in the big leagues, but he's nearing the end of his career and wasn't very effective in 2022 with a 4.66 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with 18 saves, 21 walks and only 35 strikeouts in 56 innings over 62 appearances out of Arizona's bullpen. The soft-tosser isn't going to have a robust market as a late-inning reliever heading into his age-39 season in 2024.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Mark Melancon (shoulder) is beginning to throw bullpen sessions to help build up his arm strength. The 38-year-old started his throwing program back in late-May. However, he recently was cleared to begin doing bullpen sessions. The veteran reliever has been out all season due to a lingering shoulder issue. At this point, it's uncertain if Melancon will be able to get ready in time to help the D-Backs this season. Possibly, the D-Backs decide to keep Melancon around for the 2024 campaign.
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Mark Melancon (shoulder) has a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder and will open the 2023 regular season on the injured list, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Melancon is getting a platelet-rich plasma injection. The injury will keep the 37-year-old veteran reliever out for the first couple months of the season, so fantasy managers should be avoiding him in upcoming drafts. He opened last year as Arizona's primary closer and finished with 18 saves, but he pitched poorly for most of the year and lost the job by August. The D-backs will likely role with a committee approach to save situations, with Kevin Ginkel and Andrew Chafin the best bets for those speculating on saves in deeper fantasy leagues.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Mark Melancon (shoulder) is dealing with a shoulder injury and appears likely to miss the start of the 2023 regular season. The extent of Melancon's injury is unclear, according to general manager Mike Hazen. Although we don't know exactly what is wrong with the 37-year-old pitcher, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be part of Arizona's closer committee right away. Instead, names like Kevin Ginkel, Andrew Chafin, Miguel Castro and Scott McGough will battle for save opportunities in a bullpen that fantasy managers should probably try to avoid at all costs. The 37-year-old Melancon opened last year as Arizona's closer but eventually lost the job due to poor performance. Leave him to the waiver wire to begin the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Mark Melancon picked up his 18th save of the season on Wednesday in the 5-2 win over the Houston Astros. In his inning of work, Melancon didn't allow a hit or a run while walking none and striking out none. Melancon has a 4.67 ERA (4.04 FIP) and a 1.54 WHIP on the year, but he's been better in the season's final month, posting a 2.70 ERA (5.82 FIP) with a save and four strikeouts in 10 innings pitched. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect another save before the end of the regular season, though, as the 37-year-old's previous save before Wednesday night came all the way back on Aug. 17.
Mark Melancon Out As Closer, Arizona Going With Committee
Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo said that the team will go with a closer-by-committee approach moving forward, which means right-hander Mark Melancon and his 4.66 ERA will be demoted from the ninth inning for the foreseeable future. The 37-year-old veteran is also 3-10 with a 1.58 WHIP, 14 saves, 26 strikeouts and 13 walks in 36 2/3 innings pitched this year. He'll likely work in low-leverage situations for the time being, with some combination of veteran Ian Kennedy, Joe Mantiply and Kyle Nelson factoring into the committee approach. Kennedy had the team's most recent save on Tuesday and has a 3.15 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, five saves and 32 K's in 34 1/3 innings this year. He's probably your best bet if you're speculating on saves in Arizona.
Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon put a cap on the team's 8-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out one. The 37-year-old is now 10-for-11 on save opportunities this year. He's had a few blow-up outings that have resulted in his season-long numbers looking extremely ugly (7.04 ERA, 1.83 WHIP). Melancon should remain the team's primary closer for now, but if he continues to have some rough outings, Ian Kennedy would likely be the next man up.
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Mark Melancon pitched a clean ninth inning on Thursday to close out his club's 3-1 win over the Cubs. He needed just 16 pitches to do so as he struck out one and issued a pair of groundouts to pick up his eighth save of the campaign. The veteran has struggled in recent outings on the mound, giving up seven earned runs across his previous four appearances to give him an uninspiring 7.43 ERA and 1.88 WHIP with five losses over 13 1/3 IP. Although the ratios are poor, he still seems to have a hold on the closing gig in Arizona which keeps him fantasy relevant in all formats that acknowledge saves.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mark Melancon (0-5) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while failing to record an out during Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He was tagged with the loss. Melancon entered a tied game in the ninth inning. The 37-year-old struggled mightily and failed to record a single out. His days as Arizona's closer could end as the right-hander has now allowed seven runs over his last 1 2/3 innings. Melancon is 7-for-8 in save opportunities with an 8.49 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, and four strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings in 2022. Ian Kennedy and Joe Mantiply could see save chances if Melancon struggles continue.
Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon had a rough outing in a non-save situation during Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. He entered in the ninth inning of a 3-3 tie and wound up giving up three hits, one walk and four earned runs while recording only two outs. He was tagged for his fourth loss of the year in the game and is now 0-4 on the season. The veteran is 6-for-7 in save opportunities this year, but he has an ugly 6.75 ERA and 1.97 WHIP. There's a chance we could start seeing Ian Kennedy earn a greater share of the save opportunities in Arizona going forward. Kennedy has converted three of his four save opportunities while pitching to a 3.21 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. He hasn't allowed a run over his last six innings.
