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The free agent market for Mark Melancon is heating up
Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball takes a look at the interest in Mark Melancon. Plus, the best baseball video game on the market is going retro.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
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Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen are the two relievers on the free-agent market who figure to make the most money this winter. With Chapman reportedly seeking $100 million and Jansen maybe receiving slightly less than whatever Chapman gets, you’re going to have to pay a pretty penny to pick up one of those guys. As such, there are now multiple teams who have decided that these two may be too rich for their blood and are going after the next best reliever on the market -- Mark Melancon.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Melancon currently has offers on his table from three teams: the Giants, the Nationals, and “one other” team. So sound the ‘mystery team’ alarm! Apparently all of the deals are at least for four years and over $60 million. Rosenthal noted that the Giants are currently the favorites to make the deal happen, and it makes sense. Melancon would add a much-needed boost to San Francisco’s bullpen and would give it the end-of-game safety net that helped boost the Giants to titles during their even-year voodoo heyday.
Meanwhile, it also makes sense that the Nationals are interested. Melancon made 30 appearances for them after being traded from the Pirates and recorded an ERA of 1.82 and a FIP of 2.11 with 17 saves in that period. So it makes plenty of sense that Washington would try to keep him instead of going for the two more expensive options in Jansen and Chapman. Also, to put this all in perspective, if Melancon does indeed sign a deal upward of $60 million, it’ll be the largest contract ever for a closer. However, it’ll probably end up being in third place by the time the offseason comes to a finish. It’s a good time to be a closer, isn’t it?
- The Pirates and Nationals are still in trade discussions centered around Andrew McCutchen. You’ve got to figure that a deal is going to be made soon.
- Meanwhile, the Nationals are connected with yet another big name on the trade market — Chris Sale. The Braves continue to be in the mix as well.
- In fact, the Braves and Nationals may be the only two teams seriously trying to make a trade, as the market for Sale appears to be shrinking.
- The Seattle Mariners appear to be going for a quantity-over-quality strategy for their rotation next season — to the point where they want to be “10-11 deep.”
- Yoenis Cespedes signed a big-time contract, and with big-time contracts come big-time incentives and perks.
- J.D. Martinez appears to be on his way out of Detroit, as trade rumors are swirling around the Tigers outfielder.
- With Jaime Garcia now a member of the Braves, the door has opened for prospect Alex Reyes to take a spot in the St. Louis rotation.
- In actual signing news, Carlos Beltran will be returning to the Houston Astros for the first time since serving as a rental boost for their run to the 2005 NL Pennant.
- MLB: The Show released its trailer for the latest version of the game, which includes an incredibly intriguing Retro Mode.
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