Cherington: Melancon 'Capable Of Closing'
BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Red Sox are not giving any hints as to who will be their closer next season, but general manager Ben Cherington said newly acquired Mark Melancon could do the job if asked.
"We believe he's definitely capable of closing and capable of pitching in the ninth inning for us," Cherington said Thursday morning on a conference call with the Boston media.
Utimatley though, that decision will come down to their new manager, Bobby Valentine.
"Those are questions for Bobby, with help from his pitching coach, during spring training to answer and figure out the right roles for everyone," said Cherington
"We really like his stuff, and have liked his stuff back to his college days at Arizona," Cherington added said Melancon, who was acquired Wednesday from the Houston Astros for infielder Jed Lowrie and pitcher Kyle Weiland. "We feel like the second half of last season he had a better feel for his cutter. He's always had a good curveball and he's a real aggressive pitcher, tough and confident. We think he has the intangibles to compete in the American League East and he's an upgrade to our bullpen."
The Red Sox will continue to search for other closer candidates, exploring trades for the likes of Oakland's Andrew Bailey, and could fill the position internally with Daniel Bard or even Bobby Jenks.
"We felt like we had some options before this trade. Guys who could do it, guys who have done it in the past, guys who we think are ready to do it, perhaps," said the Sox GM. "Melancon certainly adds an important piece in a guy who has done it very recently, and more recently than anyone else on our roster. We feel pretty good the way the back of the bullpen is shaping up. But there's time between now and spring training and we're looking for ways to make the team better."
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Rushing their decision is not something Boston will do, and are not concerned with naming their ninth inning man by the start of spring training.
"We don't think it's completely necessary," said Cherington. "We have in the past, and there have been other years when we haven't. I think we would like to have a defined closer on Opening Day and we believe Melancon is fully capable of doing that. We're going to keep working."
