Troy Melton has been called up and is starting for the Tigers on Wednesday. He's been lights out in the minors and would be a really nice target for us at this year's deadline. What do the Tigers need that could pry him away?
https://www.baseball-reference.com/regi ... lton000tro
Troy Melton - Detroit Tigers
Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Cards Talk Moderators
-
TraveledLessRoad
- Forum User
- Posts: 271
- Joined: 10 Jul 2024 14:36 pm
Re: Troy Melton - Detroit Tigers
Saw this article and remembered the name from the forum. Cheers!
MLB trade deadline: 6 trades we want to see, featuring Jarren Duran, Mitch Keller, Eugenio Suárez and more
Tigers acquire RP Ryan Helsley from Cardinals for RHP Troy Melton, INF Max Anderson
The assortment of ultra-effective, if mostly anonymous, relievers who starred as key figures in Detroit’s “pitching chaos” strategy last season have taken a collective step back in 2025, leaving the first-place Tigers with a far flimsier bullpen than anticipated. That dynamic makes the Tigers obvious candidates to add a reliever or two ahead of the trade deadline. Reeling in a long-term closer such as Emmanuel Clase or Jhoan Duran from a division rival feels highly unrealistic, so let’s instead turn our attention to the top rental reliever likely available, Helsley.
While he remains one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball, with a four-seamer that averages 99.3 mph, Helsley has not been nearly as effective this season as his past three years, when he was indisputably one of the best relievers in the sport. That said, this version of Helsley would still bring a much-needed swing-and-miss element to a Tigers bullpen that ranks 29th in K/9. Sometimes you need a punchout in a huge spot in October, and Helsley is an enticing option to deliver in those moments, compared to what Detroit currently has.
As for Melton, don’t be fooled by his struggles Wednesday in his major-league debut; he’s still a pitching prospect trending up in a big way. Melton is exactly the kind of upper-level arm worth targeting for a St. Louis club with immense uncertainty on the mound beyond this season. He’s a talented and sturdy right-hander who has made meaningful strides this season and would be in great position to compete for a rotation spot next spring after a full season in Triple-A.
Anderson is an unremarkable defender at second base but has raked in Double-A this season, posting a 158 wRC+ that ranks fourth among qualified hitters at the level. He’s not good enough to be a headliner — and it’s possible St. Louis would try to add as many arms as possible, rather than more bats — but he’s another solid prospect who could debut in the next year-or-so. — Shusterman
MLB trade deadline: 6 trades we want to see, featuring Jarren Duran, Mitch Keller, Eugenio Suárez and more
Tigers acquire RP Ryan Helsley from Cardinals for RHP Troy Melton, INF Max Anderson
The assortment of ultra-effective, if mostly anonymous, relievers who starred as key figures in Detroit’s “pitching chaos” strategy last season have taken a collective step back in 2025, leaving the first-place Tigers with a far flimsier bullpen than anticipated. That dynamic makes the Tigers obvious candidates to add a reliever or two ahead of the trade deadline. Reeling in a long-term closer such as Emmanuel Clase or Jhoan Duran from a division rival feels highly unrealistic, so let’s instead turn our attention to the top rental reliever likely available, Helsley.
While he remains one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball, with a four-seamer that averages 99.3 mph, Helsley has not been nearly as effective this season as his past three years, when he was indisputably one of the best relievers in the sport. That said, this version of Helsley would still bring a much-needed swing-and-miss element to a Tigers bullpen that ranks 29th in K/9. Sometimes you need a punchout in a huge spot in October, and Helsley is an enticing option to deliver in those moments, compared to what Detroit currently has.
As for Melton, don’t be fooled by his struggles Wednesday in his major-league debut; he’s still a pitching prospect trending up in a big way. Melton is exactly the kind of upper-level arm worth targeting for a St. Louis club with immense uncertainty on the mound beyond this season. He’s a talented and sturdy right-hander who has made meaningful strides this season and would be in great position to compete for a rotation spot next spring after a full season in Triple-A.
Anderson is an unremarkable defender at second base but has raked in Double-A this season, posting a 158 wRC+ that ranks fourth among qualified hitters at the level. He’s not good enough to be a headliner — and it’s possible St. Louis would try to add as many arms as possible, rather than more bats — but he’s another solid prospect who could debut in the next year-or-so. — Shusterman