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According to multiple reports tonight, free agent closer Mark Melancon is close to picking a home for the next four years.
Earlier this afternoon, Jon Heyman wrote at Fan Rag that sources told him, “... the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals are currently at the forefront in terms of suitors for Melancon.”
Melancon, he reported, is, “... expected to sign a deal that will break the current reliever record held by Jonathan Papelbon, who signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in November, 2011,” though, Heyman noted, “... that record will surely be broken by [Aroldis] Chapman and [Kenley] Jansen later this winter).”
Heyman predicted a 4-year/$56M deal for Melancon. MLBTraderumors.com predicted the 31-going-on-32-year-old reliever would get 4-years/$52M.
“Melancon currently has several offers on the table; a decision could come soon,” Heyman wrote.
FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reported tonight that Melancon was weighing multiple 4-year/$60M offers:
Sources: Melancon has multiple 4-yr, $60M+ offers: #SFGiants, #Nationals, perhaps one other. SF thought to be strongest, as @jcrasnick said.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 4, 2016
San Francisco was reportedly in the mix for Melancon before Washington acquired the right-hander from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the non-waiver deadline in return for left-handers Felipe Rivero and Taylor Hearn.
Will the Nationals spend big to bring Mark Melancon back to D.C.?
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LINK: Will Nationals go to 4-years/$60M to bring Mark Melancon back for another run?
Melancon was 17 for 18 converting save opportunities for the Nationals, posting a 1.82 ERA, a 2.07 FIP, and a .202/.224/.279 line against in 29 2⁄3 IP.
He finished the 2016 season with 47 saves total, posting a 1.64 ERA, a 2.42 FIP, 12 walks (1.51 BB/9) and 65 Ks (8.20 K/9) in 71 1⁄3 IP.
Once he became a free agent, Melancon, in an MLB Network Radio interview, said he was looking forward to the free agent process and the chance he earned.
“It’s kind of — you’ve been trying to get to this point for a long time and I’m excited for it,” he explained. “But until those offers are on the table and the decisions need to be made, I can’t really do a whole lot. So I’m just waiting for those times and we’ll go from there. It will be a family decision and it will be fun.”
The offers are reportedly there, and he’s apparently close to making a decision...