Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates avoid arbitration with 6 players, including Melancon

Published Jan. 15, 2016 5:10 p.m. ET

foxsports

PITTSBURGH (AP) Mark Melancon's All-Star season earned the closer a hefty raise.

Melancon and the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration on 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.