SAN FRANCISCO—Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Mark Melancon, 31, has signed a four-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. The announcement was made on Monday, December 5. Melancon will earn $62 million, the highest recorded salary for a relief pitcher. He will receive $4 million for the upcoming year, $10 million in 2018 and $14 million in 2019 and 2020.
He will receive a $20 million signing bonus and may opt out after two years for $34 million guaranteed.
A Colorado native who played baseball for the University of Arizona, Melancon made his MLB debut in 2009 for the New York Yankees. The right-handed pitcher then went on to play for the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and, most recently, the Washington Nationals, which he played for the team during the second half of the 2016 season.
The Giants have had an interest in Melancon since the trade deadline where they tried to recruit him from the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Washington Nationals beat them to it. Their bullpen had blown 30 saves during the 2016 season, cultivating in a 58.9 percent save average. Melancon had 47 saves (30 with the Pirates, 17 with the Nationals) in 51 chances in addition to a 1.64 ERA.
Melancon expressed his excitement on Twitter (@Mark_Melancon) on Monday. “I am excited to say I am officially apart of the San Francisco GIANTS organization!”