Score one for Mike Rizzo.

It would’ve been all too easy for the Washington Nationals GM to fall for the hype and go all-in on Andrew Miller. We’ll never know exactly what the Yankees’ asking price was for Miller, one of the game’s most dominant relievers, but whatever it was, Rizzo could’ve paid it. Washington’s farm system is loaded.

The haul that New York got in return for sending Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs? Rizzo could’ve matched that and then some, which he probably would’ve had to do, considering that Miller, unlike Chapman, has two years left on his contract and isn’t a short-term rental. Instead, Rizzo put his ego in his pocket and pilfered highly effective but infinitely unsexy closer Mark Melancon from the Pirates.

OK, maybe pilfered is a bit strong. In exchange for Melancon, the Nats had to cough up hard-throwing lefty Felipe Rivero, who, when he is on, has the look of a future closer. Then again, when he isn't -- like in early June, when he allowed 13 earned runs in seven appearances -- he has the look of a future clunker.

Along with Rivero, Washington sent another southpaw, 21-year-old Taylor Hearn, to the Bucs. If you’ve never heard of Hearn, don’t feel bad. He isn't among the team’s top 10 prospects. In fact, I have a close friend who covers the Nationals for a very well-known national media outlet, and until today, he had never heard of Hearn. Granted, I -- or, my close friend -- just came on the beat late last summer, but still.

The point is: In the grand scheme of things, Washington didn’t have to cough up a whole lot to get Melancon. The Nats didn’t have to part with Trea Turner. They didn’t have to fork over Lucas Giolito. They didn’t have to surrender Reynaldo Lopez or Victor Robles or any of the other stud prospects who likely would’ve been required to nab Chapman or Miller. Melancon might not be 6-foot-7, like Miller, or bring triple-digit gas, like Chapman, or throw from the left side, like both of them, but he has been just about as effective at the end of the game as either of them -- or anyone else in baseball, for that matter.

Since taking over as Pittsburgh’s closer in 2014, Melancon has more saves than anyone in the majors (114). Among NL relievers since then, he ranks first in ERA (1.95) and second in WHIP (0.91), behind only Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers. In other words, he’s been pretty darn good at his job -- so good, in fact, that he has made it to three of the past four All-Star Games. Believe it or not, he finished eighth in last year’s Cy Young voting, behind Madison Bumgarner and Jacob deGrom.

Is Melancon a national brand name? Nope. But he is an experienced closer who will A) be a big upgrade over seemingly deposed closer Jonathan Papelbon and B) allow fill-in closer Shawn Kelley to go back to his role as one of the league’s most dominant setup men.

For all his regular-season experience, it remains to be seen if Melancon has the goods to deliver in the postseason (in six career playoff appearances, the 31-year-old righty has 6.35 ERA and zero saves). The way the first-place Nats are playing, it looks like we’re going to find out soon. If he does -- deliver, that is -- then great; he’ll exorcise the demons of Drew Storen and past postseason failures and perhaps help lead the Nats to the first World Series in franchise history.

If he doesn’t?

Well, thanks to Rizzo’s shrewd shopping, the Nationals still have plenty of pieces to become postseason regulars for years to come.