Pirates avoid arbitration with 6 players, including Melancon
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Mark Melancon’s All-Star season earned the closer a hefty raise.
Melancon and the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration Friday, agreeing to a one-year deal that will pay him $9.65 million in 2016. The 30-year-old led the majors with 51 saves in 2015 as the Pirates won 98 games to earn a wild-card berth for a third straight year.
Melancon was in his third and final year of arbitration.
Pittsburgh also reached agreement with All-Star reliever Tony Watson, catcher Francisco Cervelli, reliever Jared Hughes, shortstop Jordy Mercer and left-handed starter Jeff Locke.
The Pirates are in the process of signing backup catcher Chris Stewart to a two-year contract. The deal is pending a physical.