The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a $2.595 M contract with reliever Mark Melancon according to Joel Sherman. He was projected to make $3 M for the 2014 season. That leaves the team with three players left to sign before the deadline or they will have to exchange arbitration figures with them. Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez and Vin Mazzaro remain unsigned at this moment.
Melancon went 1-2, 1.39 in 72 games for the Pirates in 2013. He pitched 71 innings, had 70 strikeouts, an 0.96 WHIP and saved 16 games. He was voted to the NL All-Star team.
Earlier in the day, the Pirates avoided arbitration with Gaby Sanchez for $2.3 M and yesterday they signed Travis Snider to a $1.2 M deal.