The Arizona Diamondbacks declined their $5 million mutual option for the 2024 season on right-hander Mark Melancon (shoulder) over the weekend. Instead, Arizona will give Melancon a $2 million buyout as he hits the open market this offseason. The move was entirely expected, as the 38-year-old right-handed veteran reliever missed all of 2023 due to a right-shoulder strain. Melancon is a four-time All-Star and has 262 career saves in 14 seasons in the big leagues, but he's nearing the end of his career and wasn't very effective in 2022 with a 4.66 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with 18 saves, 21 walks and only 35 strikeouts in 56 innings over 62 appearances out of Arizona's bullpen. The soft-tosser isn't going to have a robust market as a late-inning reliever heading into his age-39 season in 2024.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Mark Melancon (shoulder) is beginning to throw bullpen sessions to help build up his arm strength. The 38-year-old started his throwing program back in late-May. However, he recently was cleared to begin doing bullpen sessions. The veteran reliever has been out all season due to a lingering shoulder issue. At this point, it's uncertain if Melancon will be able to get ready in time to help the D-Backs this season. Possibly, the D-Backs decide to keep Melancon around for the 2024 campaign.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Mark Melancon (shoulder) has a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder and will open the 2023 regular season on the injured list, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Melancon is getting a platelet-rich plasma injection. The injury will keep the 37-year-old veteran reliever out for the first couple months of the season, so fantasy managers should be avoiding him in upcoming drafts. He opened last year as Arizona's primary closer and finished with 18 saves, but he pitched poorly for most of the year and lost the job by August. The D-backs will likely role with a committee approach to save situations, with Kevin Ginkel and Andrew Chafin the best bets for those speculating on saves in deeper fantasy leagues.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Mark Melancon (shoulder) is dealing with a shoulder injury and appears likely to miss the start of the 2023 regular season. The extent of Melancon's injury is unclear, according to general manager Mike Hazen. Although we don't know exactly what is wrong with the 37-year-old pitcher, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be part of Arizona's closer committee right away. Instead, names like Kevin Ginkel, Andrew Chafin, Miguel Castro and Scott McGough will battle for save opportunities in a bullpen that fantasy managers should probably try to avoid at all costs. The 37-year-old Melancon opened last year as Arizona's closer but eventually lost the job due to poor performance. Leave him to the waiver wire to begin the season.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Mark Melancon picked up his 18th save of the season on Wednesday in the 5-2 win over the Houston Astros. In his inning of work, Melancon didn't allow a hit or a run while walking none and striking out none. Melancon has a 4.67 ERA (4.04 FIP) and a 1.54 WHIP on the year, but he's been better in the season's final month, posting a 2.70 ERA (5.82 FIP) with a save and four strikeouts in 10 innings pitched. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect another save before the end of the regular season, though, as the 37-year-old's previous save before Wednesday night came all the way back on Aug. 17.

Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo said that the team will go with a closer-by-committee approach moving forward, which means right-hander Mark Melancon and his 4.66 ERA will be demoted from the ninth inning for the foreseeable future. The 37-year-old veteran is also 3-10 with a 1.58 WHIP, 14 saves, 26 strikeouts and 13 walks in 36 2/3 innings pitched this year. He'll likely work in low-leverage situations for the time being, with some combination of veteran Ian Kennedy, Joe Mantiply and Kyle Nelson factoring into the committee approach. Kennedy had the team's most recent save on Tuesday and has a 3.15 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, five saves and 32 K's in 34 1/3 innings this year. He's probably your best bet if you're speculating on saves in Arizona.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon put a cap on the team's 8-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out one. The 37-year-old is now 10-for-11 on save opportunities this year. He's had a few blow-up outings that have resulted in his season-long numbers looking extremely ugly (7.04 ERA, 1.83 WHIP). Melancon should remain the team's primary closer for now, but if he continues to have some rough outings, Ian Kennedy would likely be the next man up.

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Mark Melancon pitched a clean ninth inning on Thursday to close out his club's 3-1 win over the Cubs. He needed just 16 pitches to do so as he struck out one and issued a pair of groundouts to pick up his eighth save of the campaign. The veteran has struggled in recent outings on the mound, giving up seven earned runs across his previous four appearances to give him an uninspiring 7.43 ERA and 1.88 WHIP with five losses over 13 1/3 IP. Although the ratios are poor, he still seems to have a hold on the closing gig in Arizona which keeps him fantasy relevant in all formats that acknowledge saves.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mark Melancon (0-5) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while failing to record an out during Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He was tagged with the loss. Melancon entered a tied game in the ninth inning. The 37-year-old struggled mightily and failed to record a single out. His days as Arizona's closer could end as the right-hander has now allowed seven runs over his last 1 2/3 innings. Melancon is 7-for-8 in save opportunities with an 8.49 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, and four strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings in 2022. Ian Kennedy and Joe Mantiply could see save chances if Melancon struggles continue.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon had a rough outing in a non-save situation during Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. He entered in the ninth inning of a 3-3 tie and wound up giving up three hits, one walk and four earned runs while recording only two outs. He was tagged for his fourth loss of the year in the game and is now 0-4 on the season. The veteran is 6-for-7 in save opportunities this year, but he has an ugly 6.75 ERA and 1.97 WHIP. There's a chance we could start seeing Ian Kennedy earn a greater share of the save opportunities in Arizona going forward. Kennedy has converted three of his four save opportunities while pitching to a 3.21 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. He hasn't allowed a run over his last six innings.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon earned his sixth save of the year on Monday as he closed out the team's 4-3 victory over the Miami Marlins. He only needed six pitches to get through a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit and no walks. The veteran was charged with his first blown save of the year in his last time out this past Saturday against the Colorado Rockies. It was only the second time this year he'd allowed an earned run in one of his appearances. The 37-year-old should have a solid leash in the closer role for the D-backs. His season-long numbers don't look great (0-3, 3.60 ERA, 1.70 WHIP), but most of that damage came this past Saturday. He had just a 1.08 ERA before the Rockies torched him for three earned runs.

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Mark Melancon blew his first save of the season on Saturday as he allowed four runs (three earned) in the club's 4-1 loss to the Rockies. The veteran returned to the mound after a 10-day stint on the COVID list on Friday night to record a one-out save, but couldn't shake the rust off in this one as he gave up five hits and struck out one before getting lifted after recording two outs. Melancon still has some length on his closing leash since he was 5-for-5 in save chances before this game, but he is now 0-3 on the year and Ian Kennedy did a fine job as the interim closer during his absence. Managers shouldn't panic yet, but they should be aware of a potential usurping.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon was placed on the COVID-19 list on Friday for undisclosed reasons. It is not clear whether Melancon tested positive for COVID-19 or if he was a close contact. Either way, he will be out of commission for at least the next few days. Melancon has posted a 0-2 record, 1.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, four saves, and three strikeouts over eight innings of work in 2022. Look for Ian Kennedy to see the majority of the save chances while Melancon is sidelined, making the former a decent, short-term pickup for fantasy managers desperate for saves.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon locked down the team's 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday to earn his third save of the year. He only needed seven pitches to cruise through a scoreless ninth inning. The 37-year-old is 3-for-3 in save opportunities with a 1.29 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP over seven innings this season. Melancon received a whopping 45 save opportunities with the San Diego Padres last year and converted 39 of them. We don't expect for him to see nearly that many save opportunities with a D-backs team that should struggle to reach .500 this year. However, he certainly has a good chance of reaching 25 saves if he can stay healthy.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mark Melancon allowed two hits while striking out none across a scoreless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals. In the ninth inning, he entered the game to protect a one-run lead and tossed a scoreless inning to earn his second save of the year. The 37-year-old surrendered two hits and escaped from a mini jam to secure the win for Arizona. He owns a 1.00 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and two strikeouts over five innings in 2022. Melancon should be a steady contributor for saves for fantasy managers as Arizona's primary closer.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon has enjoyed a productive start to the 2022 season. The veteran joined the Diamondbacks as a free agent this winter after spending last season with the division-rival San Diego Padres. So far, he's allowed just one run in his first four innings, striking out two batters in the process while giving up just one walk. Melancon has also logged a save already in those four appearances and should be a steady source of saves moving forward as he looks to be entrenched as Arizona's closer.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Mark Melancon had a rough time on the mound this spring. He made four appearances and pitched a total of 3 1/3 innings. He gave up seven hits, four walks and six earned runs while striking out two. The 37-year-old is currently in line to be the D-backs' closer out of the gate this year. He was fantastic in a closing role with the San Diego Padres last season, converting 39 of his 45 save opportunities while pitching to a 2.23 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Ian Kennedy is likely next in line for saves in Arizona if Melancon gets hurt or falters.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed relief pitcher Mark Melancon, according to a tweet from MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Per Heyman, it's a two-year deal that includes a third-year option with a $2 million buyout. Including the buyout, the contract is for $14 million with an additional $2 million potentially in incentives. The veteran reliever pitched for the division-rival San Diego Padres in 2021, notching 39 saves in 64 appearances. Melancon also pitched to a 2.23 ERA and a 3.36 FIP in 64 2/3 innings while registering 59 strikeouts and 25 walks. He seems like a decent bet to close games for the Diamondbacks with Joe Mantiply, Noe Ramirezand J.B. Wendelken on hand as setup options.

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mark Melancon declined the option on his contract Friday, instead choosing to re-enter the free-agent pool. He will receive a $1 million buyout. This does not come as a surprise, as Melancon led the majors with 39 saves in 2021. He figures to do better than his $5 million option on the open market. In addition to his impressive save total, he recorded a 2.23 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 59 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings across 64 appearances. Wherever he lands, fantasy managers should take note of the bullpen hierarchy, as this will largely dictate Melancon's value in 2022 drafts.

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mark Melancon worked a scoreless ninth inning to lock down an 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The four-time All-Star was summoned to close the deal after the Angels put up four runs between the seventh and eighth innings. The 36-year-old has had a stellar 2021 campaign, posting a league-leading 37 saves, 1.88 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts across 57 1/3 innings. What Melancon lacks in strikeout and WHIP upside, he makes up for in ERA and saves opportunities on an elite team.