Written by Jorge Castillo at Washington Post.com
While making his trek from Milwaukee to San Francisco Saturday — a whirlwind trip that included a layover in Phoenix and concluded at 2 a.m. Sunday morning — Mark Melancon exchanged texts between his two delayed flights with Jonathan Papelbon, the man whose job he is taking.
Melancon, the Washington Nationals’ new closer, said Sunday that Papelbon, the Nationals’ previous closer, was “awesome” about the potentially awkward situation.
“It’s a tough situation so I understand that,” Melancon said sitting in the visitors’ dugout at AT&T Park, wearing fresh red garb. “Like he said, we’re here to win a championship. Whatever it takes.”
The Nationals acquired Melancon, a three-time all-star, from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn Saturday because the Nationals had lost confidence in Papelbon, a four-month progression completed by a poor outing Thursday to complete a horrendous week.
Melancon is essentially a rental as an impending free agent this offseason, but Washington didn’t have to relinquish a top prospect for the upgrade. The price for the elite, established late-inning reliever they coveted was worth it for General Manager Mike Rizzo.
The right-hander will wear No. 43 for the Nationals and his career with Washington will begin on the road before the team returns to Nationals Park Friday. Melancon remembers the last time he pitched in the District well: He allowed a game-tying, pinch-hit home run to Daniel Murphy in the ninth inning of an 18-inning Pirates win.
“I was trying to help us out,” he said.
That was a rare hiccup for the 31-year-old. Since seizing the role for the Pirates in July 2013, no other pitcher has amassed more saves. The Pirates had not lost a game he entered in a save situation since April 2015. He led the majors with 51 saves last season. This season, he has 30 saves in 33 chances, a 1.51 ERA, a 2.66 FIP, and a 0.96 WHIP.
