Melancon, Giants reach $62M, 4-year deal pending physical

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the contract is for four years and $62 million.

Melancon posted a combined 47 saves and a 1.64 ERA last season, a year after leading the majors with 51 saves for the Pirates.

The Washington Nationals were expected to make a heavy push to retain Melancon after acquiring him at the trade deadline.

Because Melancon was traded during the season, the Giants don’t have to give up their first pick in June’s amateur draft as compensation. Both teams have been in the running to sign Melancon for quite some time.

San Francisco blew an MLB-high 30 saves last season, which contributed to a woeful 58.9 save percentage.

ESPN’s Buster Olney was told by sources that San Francisco and the 32-year-old right-handed reliever agreed on an undisclosed contract that is pending upon the outcome of a physical of Melancon performed by Giants physicians.

Chapman’s 100+ m.p.h. velocity brought electricity to this year’s postseason, yet he surrendered six runs in 13 appearances including six walks and one huge home run – a game-tying bomb to Rajai Davis in game 7 of the World Series. But with the addition of Melancon, the Giants now look like much closer to being a complete team. While they have been among one of the more quiet teams this off-season, the Giants just displayed that they were still eyeing the market and seeing what was out there.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise that Melancon is leaving. Melancon’s strikeout numbers are not close to the other 2 top tier closers on the market in Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, but Melancon is still just as efficient, especially if you put him in a pitcher friendly ballpark like AT&T.

Another factor in play here: Washington now has a bullpen issue. Rizzo did not outline terms Monday, but a person familiar with the Nationals’ dealings said they made a four-year offer for less than $60 million. Does the fact that they could not afford Melancon mean the Nationals are out of the running for the other two? One pitcher who got an opportunity in a late inning role was right-hander Koda Glover.

Melancon’s most devastating pitch is a unique knuckle-curveball he throws, which accounted for a wKC/C of 2.22 runs saved every 100 thrown. Sure, he doesn’t match the velocity Chapman or Jansen have, but his average velocity of 91.8 miles per hour proved to be enough. But the Giants have spent $313 million the last two offseasons in free agent acquisitions.