OXON HILL, Md. -- The San Francisco Giants got their closer, albeit about two months too late.
All-Star right-hander Mark Melancon and the Giants reached agreement on a $62 million, four-year contract Monday. As baseball's winter meetings heated up, left-hander Rich Hill re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $48 million over three years.
Chris Sale was still with the White Sox, for now. But the Washington Nationals were trying to put together a deal for the left-handed ace.
Nothing yet on the other top trade targets -- Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and possibly two Detroit fixtures, slugger Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Justin Verlander.
A couple smaller deals also developed as teams met inside a hotel on the banks of the Potomac River outside Washington. The Toronto Blue Jays signed versatile Steve Pearce and Philadelphia added reliever Joaquin Benoit.
And the New York Yankees confirmed they're trying to boost their bullpen with major free-agent talent.
"We have been pursuing Aroldis Chapman. We also have been talking to Kenley Jansen. We also had talked with Melancon," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.
And the Red Sox said they might fill their designated hitter spot -- left vacant by the retiring David Ortiz -- with a DH-by-committee. That would still leave room, of course, for them to sign slugger Edwin Encarnacion.
Boston did make a move with manager John Farrell, picking up his contract option through the 2018 season.
Melancon, 31, tweeted that he was excited to be joining the Giants. They certainly were thrilled to get him, pending a physical. The deal, if completed, will be the richest ever for a reliever, but it won't be for long.
The two most-sought relievers -- Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen -- are expected to close in on the $100 million mark.
A plus for the Giants is they don't lose their first-round draft pick next June as compensation because he was traded from Pittsburgh to Washington during the season.
The Giants' bullpen was a troublespot all year, blowing 32 saves. Their woes peaked in their final loss, to the Cubs in Game 4 of the NL playoffs, when Chicago scored four runs in the ninth inning against five relievers.
Melancon posted a combined 47 saves and a 1.64 ERA last season, a year after leading the majors with 51 saves for the Pirates.
Hill, 36, found stability, and a lot more in Los Angeles. He was on the scrap heap in 2015, pitching in independent ball for the Long Island Ducks, before resurrecting his career.
"I think it's something that has been an incredible journey to get to this point, but never did I ever think that I would pack it in," he said.
Hill went a combined 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA in 20 starts for the Dodgers and Oakland last season.
Sports on 12/06/2016