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Hanrahan Trade Reactions: Bailey, Melancon, Grilli

By Zach Links [December 26, 2012 at 6:56pm CST]

Earlier today, the Red Sox and the Pirates finalized the trade that will send closer Joel Hanrahan to Boston. The swap has Hanrahan and infielder Brock Holt joining the Red Sox with outfielder Jerry Sands, right-handers Stolmy Pimentel and Mark Melancon, and Ivan De Jesus Jr. going to Pittsburgh. Here's a look at some of the reactions to the trade..

Both the Red Sox and Pirates did well in the trade, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Pittsburgh sees similarity between Melancon now and Hanrahan when they originally acquired him from the Nationals.
ESPN's Keith Law says the Red Sox received a small upgrade at a small cost with the trade. He opines that the Pirates would have been off moving Hanrahan last offseason.
The Red Sox were wise to remake their bullpen, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman believes that Andrew Bailey will make a fine set-up man and the plan to have Hanrahan close makes sense.
Melancon was asked if he got a fair shot in Boston and while he was diplomatic, it would seem that he was less-than-thrilled with how things went. “It is what it is. It’s over and done with. Obviously, I didn’t pitch as well as I wanted to," said the pitcher, according to Tim Britton of The Providence Journal (on Twitter).
Melancon told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) a few weeks ago that his biggest problem in Boston was manager Bobby Valentine. Abraham expects Melancon to do well in Pittsburgh now that he has a fresh start.
For the Pirates, the deal effectively works as a 5-for-2 or even a 6-for-2, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Francisco Liriano will get most of the money that would have gone to Hanrahan and there still may be room for one more budget free agent.
Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal notes (on Twitter) the Red Sox will have roughly $175MM committed to payroll in 2013 if Hanrahan gets $7MM through arbitration. Matt Swartz projects a $6.9MM salary.
Alex Speier of WEEI.com notes the Red Sox could flip Hanrahan at the trade deadline if they fall out of contention. He says they'll also consider making him a qualifying offer after the season.
The most cost-efficient free agent signing of the winter may be the Pirates' signing of Jason Grilli on a two-year, $6.75MM deal as he will now take over as their closer, Heyman tweets.
The Red Sox traded for Bailey on this date one year ago and it'll be interesting to see what this trade means for him, Abraham tweets.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said that the club "didn't go into the offseason looking for a closer" but the trade makes Boston a better team, according to Abraham (on Twitter).