Ex-Giants closer Mark Melancon agrees to deal with Padres
Things didn’t go so well for closer Mark Melancon during his star-crossed stint with the Giants. Apparently, he’s giving the National League West another go.
Melancon, coming off a successful season and a half with the Atlanta Braves which included appearances in two postseasons, reportedly has agreed to a contract with the San Diego Padres.
The Athletic first reported the deal, which would become official once Melancon, 36, passes a physical.
The former All-Star closer joins Drew Pomeranz and Emilio Pagan as closer candidates in San Diego.
Melancon finished up the final season of a four-year, $62 million contract that included injury-riddled seasons with the Giants in 2017-18, but he bounced back with a strong season-plus following a trade to the Braves, with 11 saves in 23 games with Atlanta in both 2019 and 2020.
Arrieta returns to Cubs: Jake Arrieta is returning to the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to a $6 million, one-year contract.
Arrieta, 34, won the NL Cy Young Award with Chicago in 2015 and helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series for their first championship since 1908. The right-hander signed a $75 million, three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in free agency and went 22-23 with a 4.36 ERA in 64 starts.
Panik stays in Toronto: The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a minor-league contract to keep former Giants All-Star second baseman Joe Panik, who will report to big league spring training.
Panik, 30, hit .225 with one homer and seven RBIs in 120 at-bats during the pandemic-shortened season, his first with Toronto.
He is a seven-year major league veteran who has a .269 average, 39 homers and 240 RBIs for San Francisco (2014-19), the New York Mets (2019) and Blue Jays.
Panik was an All-Star in 2015,...