Pirates trade Joel Hanrahan to Boston

The long rumored trade was finally finalized today as the Pirates sent Joel Hanrahan and Brock Holt to the Boston Red Six for four players of varying degrees of interest.
The four new Pirates are outfielder/first baseman Jerry Sands,reliever Mark Melancon and two prospects in shortstop Ivan De Jesus Jr (Hey,my friend!) and pitcher Stolmy Pimentel.

I have no problems trading Joel Hanrahan despite his numbers as a Pirate.
Closers are a disposable commodity and I really hate to spend a ton of money on closers as you just cannot count on them (or relievers in general for that matter) for the most part from season to season.
Hanrahan has performed very well as a Pirate,but Hanrahan will make seven million dollars in 2013,which more than I prefer to pay on a low budget team for a closer.
However,I must admit I am not thrilled with the return for the most part.
I liked Brock Holt as a Jeff Keppinger spray the ball around the field,multiple position player,but all things considered,Holt's inclusion is not a deal breaker....


Jerry Sands is the centerpiece of the trade and as recently as last winter,was thought of as a top ten prospect in the game.
Sands has plus power,which has been somewhat inflated with two years at AAA Albuquerque (a hitters park in a hitters league) and can play outfield or first base.
The acquisition of Sands means the Pirates are not likely to be finished dealing as there is a sudden logjam at first and right field between Sands,Garrett Jones,Jose Tabata,Travis Snider,Gaby Sanchez and Clint Robinson.
At least one and possibly two of the group could be elsewhere before opening day,so something has to give.
The 25 year old has yet to establish himself in the bigs in two different cameos,but the data is not extensively large,so I am far from ready to give up on Sands.

Mark Melancon was horrid in 2012 with the Red Sox,but was excellent in his previous two seasons as an Astro.
Melancon should be helped with an NL return and with four years of team control,the Pirates should get plenty of mileage out of a young and cheap addition to the bullpen...
Melancon will likely replace Jason Grilli as the setup man as Grilli graduates to the closer role with the absence of Hanrahan.

Ivan De Jesus Jr has had just eighty at bats over the last two seasons in the bigs,so he,much like Jerry Sands,has not had a large amount of big league time to evaluate from yet.
De Jesus has spent time in the minors playing second,third and shortstop,although he seems a better full time fit at second base.
De Jesus hit for an high average for much of three seasons at Albuquerque,but has little power and below average speed and does not seem to be more than a utilityman at the big league level.

Stolmy Pimentel was rated as one of the top players in the Boston system entering the 2011 season,but struggles in both seasons since at AA Portland has diminished his worth in many eyes.
Pimentel is the one new Pirate that I have seen in person and throws in the mid 90's.
The biggest issue for Pimentel has been fastball command,which to me is usually a red flag for long term viability as a starter.
Pimentel does have a strong changeup,which gives me hope,but I still have concerns about a player with just one option remaining that has yet to master AA hitters...

All told,I agree with the move to trade Joel Hanrahan,but I would have liked to have seen another top level prospect included.
Jerry Sands fits the bill of a top level prospect,but Stolmy Pimentel's Eastern League struggles make him suspect in my eyes,Mark Melancon will fit the bullpen need,but is a dime a dozen reliever and Ivan De Jesus Jr is the same as a utility player.
Time will tell,but in my opinion,this deal depends on Jerry Sands performance.
No pressure or anything,Jerry!

I still have to hammer out a Browns recap,which might be shorter since a few days have gone by and maybe a look at Nick Swisher signing with the Cleveland Indians.....