Melancon confirmed Monday that he would eventually require surgery to relieve chronic exertional compartment syndrome in his right forearm, but hopes to put the procedure off until after the season, Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News reports. "I guess that's the best way to put it: I need surgery, and I'm day-to-day," Melancon said. "I'm trying to last as long as I can."
Melancon ended up making an appearance out of the bullpen Friday against the Cardinals after it was announced earlier that day that the right-hander would require surgery, so for the time being, he'll attempt to pitch through the issue and provide aid to the Giants' setup ranks. However, manager Bruce Bochy said that if he notices Melancon's performance slip in his subsequent outings, the Giants could have him go under the knife before the season comes to an end. The prospect of an offseason procedure probably eliminates any hope Melancon had of recapturing closing duties from Sam Dyson in 2017, though Melancon's four-year, $62 million contract will probably keep him in the conversation for the ninth-inning role in spring training. The forearm procedure usually requires a recovery timeline of 2-to-3 months, so Melancon might not face any restrictions when spring arrives.