By Jim Callis
June 9, 2002

Jackson Melian once was considered part of the Yankees' outfield of the future, but he changed addresses for the third time in two years on Sunday. In a deal between the two worst teams in the National League Central, the Brewers sent Melian to the Cubs for catcher Robert Machado.

Melian, 22, received a $1.6 million bonus when he signed with New York out of Venezuela in July 1996. He's a multitooled player whose biggest assets are his power to all fields and his strong arm. But for all his physical gifts, Melian simply hasn't produced much on the diamond. He batted .223-6-24 in 56 games this year at Double-A Huntsville, where most of the progress he made came in terms of batting eye. He had 35 walks, one less than his total in 120 Double-A games last season. In 578 minor league games, Melian has batted .255-48-256, and he has been mired in Double-A since 2000. His career has been more notable for tragedy and transactions. In 1998, his parents were killed in a car accident after watching him play at low Class A Greensboro. In 2000, he was traded to the Reds in the Denny Neagle deal, and this spring Milwaukee claimed him on waivers.

Though Melian hasn't approached his considerable ceiling, it's still a bit puzzling as to why the Brewers would trade anyone with potential for a journeyman catcher. The short-term answer is that Milwaukee needed a catcher after Paul Bako dislocated his right pinky on Saturday, but the Brewers shouldn't be playing for the short term. Machado, 29, saw only limited duty for the Cubs this season, though he did outperform fellow Chicago catchers Joe Girardi and Todd Hundley when he did get into the lineup. Known more for his defense, Machado is hitting .276-1-5 in 22 big league games this year and .230-7-38 in 147 career major league contests. Another Venezuelan, he originally signed with the White Sox in 1989.