Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press
The San Francisco Giants may have inked Mark Melancon to a four-year deal, but the franchise will send checks to the closer for the next eleven years.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, instead of dispersing Melancon’s $20M signing bonus throughout his four-year deal, San Francisco paid $6M of his signing bonus on December 30th, 2016, will pay an additional $6M on January 15th, 2017, then pay $1M every January 15th from 2021 to 2028.
Before the start of Melancon’s first season, he will already have received $12M.
Once Melancon’s tenure with San Francisco officially begins in April, the team will still have to pay Melancon $50M. From his base salary alone, he’ll earn $4M in 2017, $10M in 2018, and $14M in 2019 and 2020.
With the combined $12M in signing bonuses and $42M in base salary, by the end of his contract, San Francisco will still owe Melancon $8M; this is where the $1M payments over eight years begins.
Melancon can opt out after the 2018 season.