MLB: The Four Best Moves of the Winter Meetings

3. Giants Signing Mark Melancon

While Melancon isn’t the superstar that Chapman is, his signing will have a much greater impact on not only the Giants but the league. Going into the All-Star Break the Giants had the best record in all of baseball. A second half collapse, caused owning the most blown saves in the league, led the Giants to only be a wild card team. With a closer like Melancon, who knows if it would have been yet another even year for the boys in the bay.

With a proper closer, the Giants could have had the best record in the big leagues. Even if they were still a wild card, they likely would have prevented the collapse that was game four. Winning two in a row, the Giants would have had all the momentum in the world. They very likely could have taken the Chicago Cubs in the first round, extending the streak and the even year streak. Melancon, who was lights out all season, prevents the Giants from having such a disaster in the ninth inning.

While he won’t be perfect, Melancon’s 47 saves with only 4 blown saves shows much promise for the Giants. With a more consistent arm to close out games, the Giants can see themselves make the playoffs in an odd year for the first time since 2003. With perhaps one or two more impact pieces, the Giants could even become favorites to win the World Series along with the Cubs and Red Sox. Melancon may not have that huge superstar factor, but definitely has a tremendous impact on the landscape of the MLB.