USA TODAY International Edition
IN MELANCON, GIANTS FILL NEED FOR CLOSER
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. After seeing their season end in a colossal bullpen meltdown, the San Francisco Giants knew two things for sure going into the offseason: They needed a closer, and they were going to have to pay a steep price for one.
Their pursuit bore fruit Monday when the Giants agreed to a four- year, $ 62 million contract with right- hander Mark Melancon, for now the highest- paid closer in baseball history.
The deal easily eclipses Jonathan Papelbon’s four- year, $ 50 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011 as the largest in total value for what’s essentially a one- inning pitcher. And at an average of $ 15.5 million, its annual value surpasses the highest salary a closer has commanded, the $ 15 million Mariano Rivera made in several of his final seasons with the New York Yankees.
However, both records figure to fall when free agents Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen sign deals this offseason.
For the Giants, Melancon was the right combination of skill, reliability and, compared with the other two, relative affordability.
“Mark’s durability, Mark’s track record — being among the tops in saves in baseball the last four years — combined with him being a high ground- ballrate guy, which is perfect for our defense, his preparation and approach, we just felt like he’s going to be a great fit for us,” general manager Bobby Evans said.
The Giants pursued Melancon at the trade deadline but were beaten out by the Washington Nationals, who sent two hard- throwing young pitchers for the three- time All- Star, whose 147 saves since 2013 rank third in the majors.
The Giants rued that failure as the bullpen frequently let them down in the final month, then collapsed as it coughed up a three- run lead in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series, when the Chicago Cubs’ four- run comeback eliminated them.
Though not overpowering, Melancon owns a Rivera- like cutter — taught to him by the master himself when they were teammates on the Yankees in 2009 and 2010 — that induces lots of soft contact.
He led the NL with 51 saves in 2015 and had 47 this year to go with a 1.64 ERA.
“Being able to land a closer and be first is kind of nice,” said Evans, adding the Giants will be above the new $ 195 million luxury tax and likely won’t pursue a high- priced left fielder. “It helps, because when options start going off the board, it does elevate the relative ask of other options.”