BRADENTON, Fla. — Mark Melancon wasn’t sure he would be back at McKechnie Field this spring. For much of the offseason, Melancon’s name was tossed around in trade talks as the Pirates heard offers for the two-time All-Star closer entering his final season before free agency.
Melancon stayed, agreeing to a $9.65 million contract to avoid arbitration, and so far looks as effective as he was in 2015 when he set a Pirates record with 51 saves, tied for sixth most in major league history. In Grapefruit League play, Melancon, 30, has thrown four scoreless innings.
“We went into the offseason thinking Mark would be a part of the bullpen until somebody compelled us to think differently,” general manager Neal Huntington said this week.