After finishing the season without a dependable closer, the San Francisco Giants went into the winter among the clubs expected to have interest in Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon.
A team official recently went so far as to boldly claim the Giants would absolutely sign one of the big closers this offseason. Chapman and Melancon don’t come with any sort of strings attached, whereas signing Jansen would require a team to forfeit their top unprotected pick in the 2017 Draft due to his rejecting the qualifying offer.
No matter, the interest in Jansen, and Chapman for that matter, is expected to result in both signing a contract that exceeds Jonathan Papelbon’s four-year, $50 million deal signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in November 2011.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Giants in that event would turn their attention to Melancon:
Mark Melancon met w/Giants last week. If bidding for Chapman and Jansen goes to record levels, as expected, sources say SF won't be involved
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 17, 2016
While Melancon had a strong 2016 season in his own right, the 31-year-old is presumed to be behind Chapman and Jansen on teams’ list of free-agent targets. Melancon had a combined 47 saves with a 1.64 ERA, 2.42 FIP and 0.89 WHIP with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals.
Along with the Giants, the Colroado Rockies and Nationals are among the teams with reported interest in Melancon. The Los Angeles Dodgers may also enter the picture, dependent on what unfolds with Chapman and Jansen, as they are said to have discussed a trade for Melancon prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline.
The Giants led the Majors with 30 blown saves, which is most all-time by a team that still reached the postseason. San Francisco met with representatives of Chapman, Jansen and Melancon last week.
