NewsRays acquire prospect Meloan in deal
Tampa Bay sends veteran reliever Abreu to ClevelandBy Zach Schonbrun / MLB.com
07/02/09 7:14 PM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays acquired relief pitcher John Meloan from the Indians in exchange for reliever Winston Abreu, six days after designating the 32-year-old Abreu for assignment. |
Meloan, a 25-year-old right-hander, will report to Triple-A Durham. He had a 5.52 ERA in 44 innings for the Indians' Triple-A team in Columbus this season. A former fifth-round pick by the Dodgers in the 2005 First-Year Players Draft, Meloan has an 8.68 ERA in seven appearances in the Major Leagues in his career.
It's the second time in less than a year that Meloan has been dealt. He was traded from Los Angeles to Cleveland on July 26, 2008, as part of the deal that sent infielder Casey Blake to the Dodgers. In 2007, Meloan was named a Southern League All-Star and Double-A Reliever of the Year by MiLB.com. Over parts of five Minor League seasons, he is 15-16 with a 3.75 ERA, 22 saves and an average of 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Abreu was called up from Durham following the injury to Rays reliever Jason Isringhausen on June 14 after compiling a 3-0 record with 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA for the Bulls. He made two appearances for Tampa Bay and gave up one run in 3 2/3 innings of work. But he was designated for assignment after Chad Bradford and Scott Kazmir were activated from the disabled list on Saturday.
It will mark the ninth professional franchise Abreu has pitched with in his career. He also spent the 2008 season with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League.
Zach Schonbrun is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
