Giants agree to deal with closer Mark Melancon

— -- The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a contract with free-agent closer Mark Melancon, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney.

The agreement is pending a physical, which the right-hander is currently going through for the Giants, the sources said.

The news that the teams were near an agreement was first reported by Fox Sports.

With the bullpen to blame for their postseason demise -- and largely for the team's collapse during the second half of the season -- the Giants have prioritized the acquisition of an established closer for the 2017 season.

The Giants' bullpen failed to hold a 5-2 lead in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, with five relievers unable to finish the game in an eventual 6-5 loss that ended their season.?

Melancon, 31, was acquired by the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving Washington a consistent solution to its closer problem, in contrast to the performance of usurped Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon.

He finished with a combined 47 saves and 1.64 ERA in 71? innings over his 75 appearances, having converted 30 of 33 save opportunities for the Pirates last season and then 17 of 18 for the Nationals.

The trade from Pittsburgh to Washington for left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn was the fourth of Melancon's career.

He was traded from the New York Yankees to Houston at the 2010 deadline, from the Astros to the Red Sox in the winter of 2011 and from Boston to Pittsburgh in the winter of 2012. As an eligible free agent, the righty made $9.65 million last season.

Melancon led the majors with 51 saves in 2015.