Ryan Madson probably lost another potential suitor when the Red Sox traded for Andrew Bailey. The Rangers, Blue Jays, Marlins, Mets and Padres are among the other possible Madson suitors that have acquired other closers this offseason. However, the Angels, Reds, Rays, White Sox, Astros and Dodgers could be in the market for closers, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) and I’ll add the Orioles to the list of potentially interested clubs.
Madson won't come cheap, of course. He appeared to be close to signing a $44MM contract with the Phillies early in the offseason, and the non-deal gives us a sense of agent Scott Boras’ asking price. Though the market for closers doesn’t currently seem strong, we shouldn't forget that Boras found a three-year deal for Rafael Soriano last offseason, after demand for closers appeared to have diminished.
Madson’s the best free agent reliever remaining; where will he sign?
Anybody else read the potential suitors for Madson and think wow he’s F$#%#D.
Angels or Reds. It will be the Angels if he wants to take a little less money to join the Monsters in Anaheim, or the Reds if there willing to cough up the money for another big name, young closer. I doubt Jocketty will do it, but a guy can hope, right? Sigh…
P.S. DO NOT SIGN COCO, WALT. He is worth a top 50 draft pick and is an aging closer that causes too much stress for the 9th inning.
I like hearing that from someone other than an Angel fan.- The “Monsters in Anaheim” That’s good.
I can’t help but be envious of a starting rotation like that. The offensive isn’t the best in the league (even with pujols), but that pitching staff can clearly carry them.
I’m with Ryan.
I can’t help but be envious of a starting rotation like that. The offensive isn’t the best in the league (even with pujols), but that pitching staff can clearly carry them.
He’s gonna do the 1 year, be awesome under no pressure and try again thing which is why I’m finally not just hoping but predicting, the Rays make a big splash and sign Madson to a big money, 1 year deal.
The two best suitors for him are the Angels and Reds, and I think the Reds will give the better offer since the Angels already have Walden.
Angels
Hmm, the Dodgers have Guerra, the Rays aren’t going to blow big money on relief pitching, he won’t go to the Astros, the White Sox are getting rid of players instead of adding them, the Angels have Walden, it won’t be the Orioles, so that just leaves Cincinnati.
Dodgers also have Lindblom and Jansen, both of whom have always projected higher than Guerra and put up better numbers than Guerra last season (WHIP, H/9, SO/9 and SO/BB)… highly doubt they’re in the market for a high priced closer.
Don’t the Padres make potential sense? Sign him as closer with the understanding he’ll be flipped for a good haul of prospects in July. … Win-win situation, it seems. That park will be great, too, for Madson, who is a bit homer-happy at times.
Wouldn’t he rather choose where he wants to go than be forced to go to another team via trade for prospects…? It’s not win-win, it would be a win for the Padres, but an obvious loss for Madson.
I don’t see Boras taking a one year deal for him, not his style. Doubt the Pads who still need bats would spend 7-10 million on a half a year of Madson when they just picked up Huston Street.
Would love to have him, but doesn’t make sense.
Could the Rays afford a guy like this? Seems that would be the best spot for Madson.
They don’t even like paying for star position players for the most part. No way they shell out big cash/years for a closer when they’ve likely got 5 great up and comers in the minors.
They don’t even like paying for star position players for the most part. No way they shell out big cash/years for a closer when they’ve likely got 5 great up and comers in the minors.
Hey guys, remember that time the Phillies were going to massively overpay Madson and then basically everything fell apart and now he’s going to be lucky to even get a multiyear deal at this point?
That stunk for him, huh?
I don’t believe that the Philly’s really made that offer….I think that was just borASS and that pissed them off…I do see Ryan only getting 3/$24m-$28m this off season….and that is a huge raise from $4.5m in ’11
chris farley is my all time fave
I’m not sure what it is about him, but i just don’t see him as a closer. He’s a very good reliever, i just see him fit better as a setup man.
Agreed, he’s asking to be paid like an established closer with a history of sustained excellence, while in reality he’s only had one full season being a closer.
4 years/30 million is the highest I’d go.
I like the Angels closer Walden, he had a rough rookie year but the guy throws 100mph and did still save 32 games. That being said I do understand that it is an “arms” race to win the West this year and adding Madson wouldn’t mean losing Walden so yeah I’m for it.
He was good with 32 saves.. but he did blow 10 or 11 games(i think 10).. which is what we were behind the rangers at the end of the season.. i think it would help him having madison around so he can mature and feel less pressure until he is ready
He blew 10 saves. The thing about having Madson is that it would do for Walden what the Angels did with K Rod and before him with Percival. Each had that veteran closer to learn under. They came INTO the closer’s role with their feet already under them.
Walden could learn a lot from Madson.
exactly.
I don’t see Dodgers looking for closers in the off-season. Perhaps mid-season, *IF* new owner wants to make a move *AND* unlikelihood that both Guerra AND Jansen falter.
And Lindblom. His 1.045 WHIP, 6.4 H/9, 8.5 SO/9 and 2.73 ERA wasn’t bad, either.
I don’t see Dodgers looking for closers in the off-season. Perhaps mid-season, *IF* new owner wants to make a move *AND* unlikelihood that both Guerra AND Jansen falter.
Ryan Madson is the type of guy that Andrew Friedman discussed right after the season ended. Asked about payroll “we don’t operate on a set number, if things show up for us that cost more than usual, we go for it, just like with Rafael Soriano before 2010, we will always push the payroll for a great fit” Well, Andrew, you didn’t know it then but you described Ryan Madson.
Ryan Madson is the type of guy that Andrew Friedman discussed right after the season ended. Asked about payroll “we don’t operate on a set number, if things show up for us that cost more than usual, we go for it, just like with Rafael Soriano before 2010, we will always push the payroll for a great fit” Well, Andrew, you didn’t know it then but you described Ryan Madson.
the whitesox shouldnt even be on this poll…If they didnt think they have an in house closer they never would have traded Santos…The are going to start the season with Reed as their closer, with crain and thornton there to back him up if he fails, assuming thornton isnt traded. Also there is a dark horse closer option in axelrod.
the whitesox shouldnt even be on this poll…If they didnt think they have an in house closer they never would have traded Santos…The are going to start the season with Reed as their closer, with crain and thornton there to back him up if he fails, assuming thornton isnt traded. Also there is a dark horse closer option in axelrod.
hed have to be overwhelmed to even consider a team other then the angels or rays
I don’t understand the constant mentions of the Angels wanting a closer. They may trade for back end relievers or something but Walden is a great young closer. The guy was a rookie and had a few growing pains but he’s a stud and if they actually have money left, I don’t think they should spend it on Madson.
Walden was great but he is really unproven. Madson would give the Angels a good 1-2 punch.
It would be interesting if the Angels took him and then made Walden available.
That would give them Trumbo and Walden to put together in a package to upgrade another roster spot.
Shipping Trumbo out so prematurely doesn’t make sense.
This isn’t Brandon Wood all over again where the Angels will regret hanging onto a young player for too long.
The Angels planned for Trumbo to get extended time at third base during winter ball but his injury put a damper on that.
The prudent thing to do is stick Trumbo at third for the majority of spring training, see how he does, and go from there.
Best case scenario- He handles third well (he threw 94mph in high school, so it’s only a matter of how susceptible he is to charging bunts etc) and the Angels have the prototypical power 3rd baseman they’ve desired since Glaus.
Worst case scenario- He fails miserably and the Angels now have a powerful bat off the bench or a mashing DH in the event that Kendrys Morales isn’t ready to go.
The same goes for Walden…another young, cheap, controllable player who more or less proved himself on the big league stage despite some growing pains here and there.
The Angels would have to be overwhelmed with an offer to move either player this year.
Trumbo wouldn’t take much at all. With pujols and morales they are set at 1b and dh. Even if moales cant play youre still talking about a sub 300 obp player. There have been rumblings about him all offseason and nobody has implied he’d take much. He’s a young guy with some power but his miserable bop makes him a 7 hitter from a power position. Marginal value. Maybe a B- pitching prospect gets it done. Perhaps two C or C+ guys, but two C+ guys feels like an overpay for a very marginal hitter. Sorry angels fans.
I sort of disagree with both people. First of all, I don’t agree that he will be kept, he WILL be traded but 2nd, I don’t think he will come cheap at all. I just hope the Rays are prepared to make a good enough offer for the young power hitting 1B, we need him behind Longoria.
He won’t be cheap, and he won’t be traded, at least not this season.
The Angels won’t trade him without first trying him out at third base.
You’re forgetting about a concept called room for improvement.
Are you implying that Trumbo’s OBP ceiling is .300?
He posted an OBP of .333 in 2009 and .368 in 2010 in the minors, and while I’m aware that there’s almost always a drop-off in stats when transitioning to the majors, it’s not inconceivable to see Trumbo posting a .330 OBP, which would be more than respectable for a big swinger.
I will not refute that his OBP was abysmal last year but let’s be honest, he’s not the first power hitter to swing at anything and everything. And please, keep in mind that he was a ROOKIE last year, it’s not like he’s some seasoned veteran who has nowhere to go but down.
Discipline is one of the most teachable hitting traits.
Your suggestion that a guy who hit 30 HR IN the majors would net ONE B- pitching prospect is absolutely laughable.
30 HR guys in the post-steroids era don’t exactly grow on trees. Whether or not Trumbo has flaws (and he does…I’ll be the first to admit as much), He’s still worth more than a 2nd tier prospect.
Shipping Trumbo out so prematurely doesn’t make sense.
This isn’t Brandon Wood all over again where the Angels will regret hanging onto a young player for too long.
The Angels planned for Trumbo to get extended time at third base during winter ball but his injury put a damper on that.
The prudent thing to do is stick Trumbo at third for the majority of spring training, see how he does, and go from there.
Best case scenario- He handles third well (he threw 94mph in high school, so it’s only a matter of how susceptible he is to charging bunts etc) and the Angels have the prototypical power 3rd baseman they’ve desired since Glaus.
Worst case scenario- He fails miserably and the Angels now have a powerful bat off the bench or a mashing DH in the event that Kendrys Morales isn’t ready to go.
THE BLUE JAYS!!!
(jk)
I agree on not needing a closer and Walden being a stud. I do think that at this point to a certain degree money is no object for Arte-the TV deal, the 3million plus fans every year, the increased merchandising, all of that is great but if the team still doesn’t make the playoffs next year the season will be regarded as a failure. The Closer of all “positions” has an impact on not only making the playoffs but succeeding in them. The Pujols signing will be judged in the future on how well the team does in the next decade so hopefully if that missing piece is a closer then go get him.
I don’t know how Madson could/would pass up the opportunity to close for the 4 headed monster in Anaheim(unless he get more $ elsewhere of course)..I mean he’s from Southern California, OC has great weather, beaches, and gorgeous women, not to mention he be playing for a contender..If I were him I’d just take a paycut sign for 1 or 2 years, shut up, play and earn my paycheck while trying to win a ring
I don’t know how Madson could/would pass up the opportunity to close for the 4 headed monster in Anaheim(unless he get more $ elsewhere of course)..I mean he’s from Southern California, OC has great weather, beaches, and gorgeous women, not to mention he be playing for a contender..If I were him I’d just take a paycut sign for 1 or 2 years, shut up, play and earn my paycheck while trying to win a ring
The Angels have suggested that they still view Walden as the closer of the future, but would like someone to “help him out” this next season. That would suggest a 1-year contract to a pitcher with closing experience, and it seems Madson is almost definitely going to try to hold out for more than one year.
I was just thinking about this today, but what about possibly swinging a trade for Francisco Rodriguez? The Brewers weren’t expecting him to actually accept arbitration…they’d probably let him go for one solid prospect and salary relief. I know he’s not the K-Rod of old, but as he’s eligible for free agency again next year, he might be motivated to put his best foot forward in his return to Anaheim…then he could leave again after the 2012 season, hand the reigns to Walden, and the Halos could score a couple draft picks. Just a thought…
The 1 thing that Walden didn’t have that Percival and Frankie(Rodriguez) had when they took over as closers for the Angels is atleast 1 year as a setup man in the bigs. Frankie got to setup for and learn from Percival, Percival got to setup for and learn from Lee Smith I think that if Walden would have had that then we wouldn’t be talking about replacing a flame-throwing beast right now. Walden’s year in the bigs while not perfect was a pretty good learning experience…
Rosenthal says that Angels want Madson on a 2 year deal.
Where’d he say that? He didn’t tweet it anyway. That wouldn’t be smart for the Angels or Madson. Madson should take a high money, 1 year deal and try again next year or somehow find at least 3 years and the Angels shouldn’t take Walden’s job away for now, 2 years.
Thought the Marlins were supposed to sign 4 or 5 big names this year, not just 1… and Mark Buehrle
They are going after that Cuban’s name that I can’t spell still. I just call him “Your Potatoes” but yeah, they still want him and they want another SP but they don’t realize they need to trade something for it.
Wonder if the rays would be willing to do a package of trumbo/burjos/conger for Evan longoria. Angels get a legit third baseman and rays get 3 potential star players
That fake rumor strikes again. Evan isn’t going anywhere unless Friedman is offered a whole farm system, a good one, not the Astros farm system or someone like that.
Longoria would require a package centered around Trout, and we all know that’s never going to happen.
Longoria is never ever going to be traded. He is too valuable. Mike Trout has a chance to be a very very good player, but you’re talking about trading a perennial 5-7 WAR player who you have signed at a bargain basement price away for prospects, who lets face it, probably won’t ever be as good as Longoria. Evan is the very definition of untouchable
Come on… 2011 Regular Season .244 31/99/.355
Longoria is a very very good ball player but you guys are talking like it’s a trade for One of the greatest players to ever play the game…. Not saying Tampa would ever pull the trigger cause I know he’s their franchise player but trumbo and 3 very good prospects would be more than enough to get a deal done.
no…the nats enquired about bourjous and the angels price was pretty high….thats a pipe dream
Angels will get madson
Ok. Stop. Seriously, it’s annoying.
Rays will give Madson a 1 year 7-10 million deal and he will get his own Papelbon type deal with some other team next off season.
I really can’t see him signing with the Reds because of their budget constraints. They offered Cordero a contract that got a “unless they raise it I’m gone” response from him. I have to think that Madson/Boras feel Ryan is worth a lot more than Coco. I think he is an Angel when all is said and done.
As an Angels fan I’d love to see Madson in Anaheim this season, but given Moreno’s checkered past with Boras and Madson’s alleged absurd asking price, it’s hard to imagine a deal getting done.
I just don’t see Madson as a shut down closer. Go after Darren Oliver keep scott downs in the setup role and let Walden be the closer.
That sounds smarter than throwing money at Madson. Like I said, trade for back end RP’s or sign whoever might be left. I bet you can trade for K-Rod with the Brewers paying most of his salary, he was awesome in his Angel days. 8th and 9th are fine with Downs and Walden.
Spending big bucks on a bullpen arm is never the smartest investment in my opinion. There are just so many options both internally and on the free agent market from year to year (since they rarely get more than 2-3 year deals) that spending $30M+ on Madson, even if he is now “affordable” with the new TV deal, would be a mistake. Especially with a guy like Walden waiting in the wings.
You can’t pay millions for every position on the team. Without a few decent, cost-controlled players around things are going to get very expensive very fast (and they already are).
Madson’s change up will spin the Rangers hitters into the ground.
With the angels already having Scott Downs (lefty), i dont see any effectiveness adding another lefty reliever. what we need is a power right handed setup man. awnser: Ryan Madson
Price: overrated
You can never have too man leftys. Hawkins isn’t a power arm but I think that’s why they got him for a right handed option
Yes, the Angels have already spent way more than anyone expected. But the thing to keep in mind is that, when you have a pitching staff THAT good, you want somebody who can finish off the games. Is that somebody Jordan Walden?
I think it is.
32 saves for a rookie with no setup experience ain’t too shabby
and the 10 BS was expected b/c of that lack of experience….it also shows how good Kimble and Neftali were their rookie years
I feel like Walden is underrated for the fact that Kimbrel took all the spotlight and along with other rookie relievers this year also because of past rookies that had amazing rookie years like Neftali Feliz.
I’m hoping DiPoto is smarter than other GMs and knows there is no such thing as a “closer” and doesn’t overpay for something that doesn’t exist.
Anyone else feeling another Socal discount?
kenley jansen > madson. dodgers dont need madson. look, i’d love a tandem of madson and jansen, but the dodgers actually have a nice bullpen. their only positive other than Kershaw and Kemp going into 2012
I doubt it will be the Dodgers. No money under current ownership. Maybe if ownership changes? They also have Guerra who closed last year for the Dodgers, and should have gotten R.O.Y. votes, and then there is the beast, Kenley Jansen, who could close games if needed. If the Halos were somehow able to get him, I think they are the favorites to win the WS. I think it’s the last step for Dipoto. An experienced closer, it seems, is the last hole they have. I just dont know if they have the money after CJ and Pujols.
angel nation baby hahahaha !!
These polls are rigged. The article always tells everyone how to vote and then takes a vote and amazingly, the vote turns out the way the writer wanted. LOL