Melancon, Giants reach $62 million, 4-year deal

It’s the richest contract ever for a closer, topping Jonathan Papelbon’s $50 million, four-year deal with the Phillies from 2012-15 and Mariano Rivera’s $15 million annual value total in 2011-12 by the Yankees.

Pending a physical, the pitcher receives a $20 million signing bonus, $8 million of which is deferred, then salaries of $4 million for 2017, $10 million in ’18 and $14 million in each of the ’19 and 2020 seasons.

Dodgers re-sign Hill The Los Angeles Dodgers have re-signed free-agent pitcher Rich Hill to a $48 million, three-year contract after he went 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA in six starts with the team he joined at the trade deadline.

Hill gets a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $12 million next year, $16 million in 2018 and $18 million in 2019.

Benoit, Phillies reach deal A person familiar with the negotiations says reliever Joaquin Benoit and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $7.5 million, one-year contract.

Red Sox exercise option on manager The Boston Red Sox have exercised the 2018 option on manager John Farrell’s contract.

Blues Jays sign Pearce The Toronto Blue Jays signed utility player Steve Pearce to a two-year, $12.5 million contract.

Beltran, Astros finalize contract Carlos Beltran and the Houston Astros have finalized a $16 million, one-year contract.

Scherzer, Posey, McCutchen commit to play at WBC NL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and previous MVPs Buster Posey and Andrew McCutchen are among the top players confirmed to play for the United States at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.