When San Francisco signed Mark Melancon to a deal in the range of four-years, $62 million, there was a little tidbit that got lost in the shuffle.
The closer chose the Giants, a team whose window is theoretically closing, over the Nationals, a squad with younger superstars and equivalent starting pitching to San Francisco.
Nearly every core player on the Giants’ roster is between 28 and 33 years old. The three best hitters on the Nats — Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon — are 23, 24 and 26 respectively.
Eight teams checked in ahead of the Giants in Las Vegas’s 2017 World Series odds, including Washington. Baseball geeks are down on San Francisco’s chances. Many believe a path to the playoffs is much easier in the NL East than it is in the NL West — the Dodgers have won the division four straight years.
Further, Melancon is walking into a bullpen that was historically bad in 2016, and leaving Washington’s where he was becoming a star in D.C. A hodgepodge of relief pitchers blew 32 saves last season for the Giants, including a 5-2 ninth inning lead on the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 of the NLDS. Even with a new closer, this bullpen still has several question marks surrounding it.
What does this say about Melancon?
He values an organization who has already accomplished the goal of winning championships and he wants to be a staple piece that returns the Giants to glory. Youth and potential, what the Nats possess, isn’t everything in baseball. Championship seasons from the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014 are still relevant and helping land free agents in 2017.
Even though the Giants paid him just a tad bit more, Melancon is telling the world he believes in Bruce Bochy, Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik and Hunter Pence more than he does Dusty Baker, Harper, Turner, Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth. This is significant. Championships are credibility money cannot buy.
Melancon’s name isn’t as sexy as Aroldis Chapman or even Kenley Jansen. But outside of Johnny Cueto, the Giants have never been an organization to go name-chasing. Bobby Evans and Brian Sabean understood what their biggest need was, and they filled it with the steadiest ninth-inning arm they could find.
Washington’s loss is San Francisco’s gain. Melancon has been the definition of dependable. His 131 saves over the last two seasons are more than any other closer in baseball.
Although they have gobs of money, it’s important to note the Giants didn’t break the bank for Melancon. Seven different players have bigger contracts than San Francisco’s new closer — Posey, Cueto, Matt Cain, Pence, Jeff Samardzija, Crawford and Brandon Belt. But the Giants have spent $313 million the last two offseasons in free agent acquisitions. They are committed to bringing in proven, veteran players.
Another factor in play here: Washington now has a bullpen issue. The Nats could very well be a team the Giants see in the playoffs, or even the one-game Wild Card. The Giants were 3-4 against the Nationals last season, and this rivalry now has a new page to it with Melancon’s arrival.
Melancon played for the Nationals, helped them win the division in 2016 and nearly led the team to the NLCS. He was a major part of that team, and could’ve become a folk hero helping lead the city of Washington to it’s first major sports championship since 1992.
But Melancon chose the Bay Area over the nation’s capital.
Despite two straight seasons with disappointing endings, what the Giants have built the last seven seasons has not been forgotten in the free agency market.