Former Braves and San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mark Melancon. (Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)
Former Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres reliever Mark Melancon has agreed to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency.
You can’t accuse Mark Melancon of chasing a ring this offseason.
After an All-Star stint with the Padres, the reliever is heading to Arizona to join the Diamondbacks, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Mark Melancon spurned the Braves to join the Diamondbacks
Jeff Passan added some details about the deal. Melancon is set to get $14 million over two years.
That ends the hopes of some that Melancon would make his way back to Atlanta with an eye on helping them compete for another World Series.
Melancon joined the Braves in 2019 via a trade and made 23 appearances for the team in 2020. He entered free agency in 2021 and joined San Diego for a year.
The terms of the deal essentially priced him out from joining the Braves. Atlanta had reportedly discussed the possibility of bringing him back. Even at that time there were questions about whether they would shell out the contract he would be looking for.
The payday was coming after his stellar season with the Padres. He led MLB with 39 saves with an ERA of 2.23.
Melancon is 36 years old and will be 37 during the 2022 season. He made his debut with the Yankees back in 2009 and has spent time with the Astros, Red Sox, Pirates, Nationals, Giants, Braves and Padres picking up four All-Star nods along the way. He’ll add Diamondbacks to that list.