Heading into the 2015 season, former Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson did not pitch a single game since 2011. After one-year deals with the Reds and the Angels in which he did not pitch, Madson sat out 2014, before signing with the Kansas City Royals prior to 2015. The scout was Jim Fregosi, Jr. who originally helped draft Madson to the Phillies organization. Fregosi now works with the Kansas City Royals and gave Madson new life in 2015. That chance has turned into a three-year contract.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reported the Oakland Athletics have signed Madson:
Ryan Madson has agreed to a 3-yr, $22M deal with #Athletics pending physical, source says.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 6, 2015
A three-year deal for a 35 year-old reliever for big money is rare.
With that type of commitment, Madson might become the Athletics' closer. Sean Doolittle has served as the Athletics closer the last two seasons, though Doolittle pitched just 12 games due to injury in 2015. Perhaps Doolittle will be traded this offseason. Otherwise, that is a pricey commitment for a set-up man.
