Melancon signed a four-year, $62-million contract in December to become San Francisco's closer, a role that the club couldn't fill adequately last season. The Giants believe that the stability Melancon provides will help manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti define roles for the relievers who precede him. Lacking a consistent closer, the Giants scrambled to retire hitters in last season's late innings as each relievers' responsibilities varied game by game.
The process of assigning relievers their respective tasks will begin almost as soon as Giants pitchers and catchers begin workouts on Feb. 14. Position players will get underway with a full-squad workout on Feb.