Giants find their closer, give Melancon 4-year deal

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Committing an unprecedented sum of money in an attempt to offset unprecedented lapses in performance, the Giants obtained the closer they sought by agreeing to a four-year contract Monday with free-agent right-hander Mark Melancon. In announcing the deal, Giants general manager Bobby Evans did not divulge financial details of Melancon’s contract, which will become official pending the obligatory physical examination.

The New York Post reported that Melancon’s contract totaled $62 million. Assuming those figures are accurate, both the pact’s average annual value of $15.5 million and the total figure established highs for relief pitchers. Both all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera, whose salary topped out at $15 million annually, and Jonathan Papelbon, who signed for $50 million over four years with Philadelphia before the 2012 season, were eclipsed.

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Melancon is not expected to remain the game’s highest-paid reliever for very long. Right-hander Kenley Jansen and left-hander Aroldis Chapman — two other top closers available in free agency — likely will command more lucrative deals.

The unique circumstances of this offseason, featuring a short supply of closers combined with …

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