Dec 10, 2015 By John Perrotto for The 3 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Pirates have offloaded two of their three potential big-salaried arbitration players.

And Mark Melancon might make it a clean sweep.

The Pirates are still open to trading their closer after dealing second baseman Neil Walker to the New York Mets for left-hander Jon Niese on Wednesday at baseball’s Winter Meetings and a week after allowing first baseman Pedro Alvarez to become a free agent by not tendering him a contract.

Melancon and Walker are both likely to make at least $10 million next season after going through the salary arbitration process in January and February while Alvarez was projected to make $8 million.

All three players are eligible for free agency at the end of the next season and the Pirates feared losing all three without receiving anything back other than amateur draft pick compensation.

Catcher Francisco Cervelli is also eligible for free agency following the 2016 season but the Pirates are talking to him about a contract extension.

“It’s a matter of deciding if you want to be good for one season or put yourself in position by adding players who can help you be good for the next three seasons,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conventional Center.

The Washington Nationals appear to have the most interest in Melancon but they first need to clear payroll and roster space by trading one of their two late-inning relief pitchers in Jonathan Papelbon and Drew Storen.

A Nationals’ source, though, said they would be unwilling to give up a lot in terms of major league players or prospects in order to obtain Melancon because he only is a year away from free agency.

Meanwhile, Niese will likely be either the No. 3 or 4 starter in a rotation fronted by right-hander Gerrit Cole and left-hander Francisco Liriano and including righty Charlie Morton and lefty Jeff Locke.

“Getting a starting pitcher has been No. 1 on our to-do list since the season ended,” Hurdle said.

The Pirates have lost two starting pitchers in the offseason, right-hander A.J. Burnett to retirement and left-hander J.A. Happ to the Toronto Blue Jays in free agency.

Niese, 29, got over half of his outs on ground balls last season — something that greatly appeals to the Pirates — when he went 9-10 with a 4.33 ERA in 33 games, including 29 starts, in helping the Mets win the NL pennant.

Niese has spent his entire eight-year career with New York and has a 61-61 record with a 3.91 ERA.

The Pirates feel they have the infield depth to cover Walker’s loss as super utility player Josh Harrison is slated to be the regular second baseman in 2016.

“I’d feel comfortable with Josh Harrison at any position on the field,” Hurdle said

The Pirates, though, may need to find a stopgap player to fill in at third base early next season while Jung Ho Kang recovers from the broken leg and torn knee ligament he sustained last September in a collision at second base.

One possibility is re-signing utility man Sean Rodriguez, who played in 141 games for the Pirates last season. If that happens, he likely would play second and Harrison would man third until Kang is healthy.

“Jung Ho’s rehab is coming along well but it’s still way too early to know when he’s coming back,” Hurdle said.