Dusty Baker: ‘I Hate Losing Melancon,' Giants Have More Resources Than Nats

The Giants were able to pluck free-agent All-Star closer Mark Melancon away from the Nationals.

Washington manager Dusty Baker isn't happy about it.

“I hate losing Melancon, because I’m going to tell you, he was very good, but we’ve still got a chance on landing some guys," Baker said on MLB Network Radio. "“I got input but I'm not putting in money and that's what real input it is, you know what I mean?

"And so my input was such that — we all wanted Melancon, but we don't have the budget or the packed stadium for 800 games in a row like the Giants do. They have more resources than we do. We’ve got a lower budget and everybody has a budget.”

Melancon's deal includes an opt-out after the second year, similar to the one given to Johnny Cueto a year ago. Melancon will get a $20 million signing bonus with $8 million deferred. He is due $4 million in salary in 2017 and $10 million in 2018, and if he opts out, he gets that money plus the full signing bonus, turning this into a two-year, $34 million pact.

If Melancon doesn’t opt out, he will make $14 million in each of his final two seasons. He also received a full no-trade clause.

“If we would have spent that on Melancon, we wouldn't have been able to spend anything on anybody else," Baker added. "But you've got to do what you can do inside the budget. If I had real input, I would have probably spent another $200 million.”
 

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