2016 – A couple of important free agent signings are announced at the winter meetings taking place in National Harbor, MD. The Giants sign closer Mark Melancon for four years and and $62 million, after the lack of a reliable closer cost them dearly in the second half of the previous season and in the postseason. For their part, the Dodgers re-sign P Rich Hill for three years and $48 million, two years after the 36-year-old one-time reliever re-launched his career by going to the independent leagues and tried his luck as a starting pitcher.