2012 MLB Free Agents: Ryan Madson Generating Significant Interest
By Editorial Staff
Scott Boras sat down with Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com to discuss the prospects of his client, free agent closer Ryan Madson. Boras said that Madson is already receiving “a lot of interest”. According to Boras, Madson’s suitors include the Phillies as well as several other clubs.
While Boras doesn’t name the other clubs involved, he did mention that he’s heard from a couple of teams that, entering the offseason, he didn’t know were looking for closers.
Boras went on to focus in on Madson’s interactions with the Phillies. As far as a possible return goes, Boras did say the sides have “begun conversations”. Boras, Madson and the Phillies are “having good dialogue” and the super-agent believes his client is most comfortable pitching in Philadelphia. Boras finished the Phillies’ talk by noting that the club is a “strong candidate” on Madson’s list.
Discussion then turned to Boras praising the talents of his client, something he’s become well known for over the years. Boras told Salisbury that Madson “is a top-notch closer” and that he’s not only a pitcher that uses velocity, but that he “throws 95 with a great changeup and slider”.
Because the Phillies and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. do not discuss deals publically, we only have Boras’s statements to go off of. Salisbury mentions that Philadelphia has an unwritten rule of sorts stating that they will not sign a pitcher to more than a three-year contract. Obviously this was not the case with Cliff Lee, but he’s one of the best left-handers in the game and a starting pitcher.
Madson is targeting as many years as he can get, and when asked about the Phillies’ rule regarding pitcher contracts, Boras said “a policy like that surrounds the value of the player”. Madson’s agent said that the Lee deal “turned out to be a good decision”, and he will likely try and convince Amaro that extending a deal of similar length to his client would turn out to be another wise choice.
As usual, Boras had no timetable for when Madson would sign with a club. As long as his player “gets a fair deal”, the “timing doesn’t matter” to Boras.
For more on the Phillies, be sure to check out That Balls Outta Here.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.