San Francisco Giants: Mark Melancon Officially Introduced at Press Conference
The San Francisco Giants held a press conference today to introduce the team’s newest acquisition, closer Mark Melancon.
Melancon was San Francisco’s main target as they headed to Washington D.C. for the Winter Meetings and he was the one player they signed while in the nation’s capital. At the time, it was the largest in baseball history for a relief pitcher at four years and $62 million.
“From Day One,” Melancon said, “I thought this was the best fit.”
Team president and CEO Larry Baer has been more impressed with Melancon with each visit.
“He was our target and we’ve gotten to know him, and the more we’ve gotten to know him the better we’ve felt about the fact that he was really meant to be a Giant,” Baer said.
Melancon said pitching in front of a talented defense and being able to pitch to Buster Posey were two exciting benefits to joining the Giants.
“That’s kind of an attractive thing to have a couple of Gold Glovers (up the middle) and then being able to throw to Buster is icing on the cake,” he said. “When you put things together on paper and go ‘who do you want to throw to and back you up,’ this team stands out.”
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Signing a closer also means the Giants will say goodbye to former closers Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo as well as left handed specialist Javier Lopez.
The team has said they feel comfortable with the young arms the team has in their bullpen and do not plan on bringing back any of the three veteran relief pitchers.
Manager Bruce Bochy was asked if he felt comfortable with the rest of the bullpen, now that Melancon is signed.
“I’m very confident that we’re going to have a good bridge to Mark,” Bochy said.
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