Melancon, 26, threw 1,121 pitches last season, opponents hitting .234. Off his 461 fastballs, they hit .317, off his 299 curveballs, they only hit .138, and off his 260 cutters they hit .200.
Melancon went 8-4 with a 2.78 ERA and had 20 saves in 74 ⅓ innings last season, striking out 66 and walking 26. He became the closer out of spring training after Brandon Lyon went down with a rotator cuff injury.
“He’s got great makeup,’’ said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who drafted Melancon.
Melancon (pronounced Muh-lansen) was a ninth-round pick in 2006, but appeared in 15 games for the Yankees, in 2009 and ’10. He was dealt to the Astros along with third baseman Jimmy Paredes for Lance Berkman at the July 31, 2010, trade deadline.
Asked whether he thought Melancon, who had Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2007, could be a closer in the American League East, Cashman said, “He has the ability.’’
The New York Times once asked Melancon about the possibility of one day replacing Rivera. Melancon responded, “It’s not overwhelming because it’s not true unless I make it true. I think it’s able to be done. I’m excited for that. I’m excited people are thinking that’s out there. But I know it’s not true unless I make it true.’’
The Red Sox finally gave up on Lowrie, with whom Astros manager, and former Sox bench coach, Brad Mills is familiar. Lowrie, who played second, shortstop and third base for the Sox, will start at shortstop for the Astros, according to Mills. Lowrie became undependable as injuries mounted, and he was never able to shake them off and play consistently enough for former manager Terry Francona.
The Astros believe Lowrie, a switch-hitter who is better against lefthanders, can provide an upgrade, especially offensively.
“For me it’s about playing and that’s always what I’ve wanted,’’ Lowrie told the Associated Press. “Hopefully, I get that opportunity in Houston.’’
