The Rangers are checking in on free agent closer Ryan Madson, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Texas is still looking for bullpen help even after signing Joe Nathan.
Just yesterday we heard that a contender could make a surprise play for Madson, and the Rangers would certainly qualify. In addition to Nathan, they also have Mike Adams and Koji Uehara at the back of their bullpen. That didn't stop them from looking into acquiring Andrew Bailey, however. If they were to get serious about Madson, it probably wouldn't happen until after the Yu Darvish situation is resolved.
Nearly 4,400 MLBTR readers believed the Angels would sign Madson when polled last month. The Rangers weren't an option in the poll, but more than 2,800 readers expected him to sign with a team that wasn't listed.
Are the Rangers trying to have the equivalent of the Phillies’ rotation in their bullpen? Geez. The last 3-4 innings of dominant relievers. Rough sauce for the rest of the AL West.
You mean AL equivalent of what Braves had last season?
Haha! Yesss! Being a Braves fan, I can’t agree with you more. However, if TEX does sign Madson, you’ve got to like the advantage they have knowing that most of their guys, including a proj starter (Feliz), has closing experience: Madson, Nathan, Uehara, Adams (less than the rest, but still some in SDG).
Without the hindrances of Scott Linebrink, Peter Moylan, and George Sherrill, I expect to see an even better Atlanta bullpen this season, where Fredi Gonzalez knows exactly what he’s working with. Medlen and a full season of Vavaro and Vizcaino should help tremendously.
I’d still take the back end of the braves pen
Closing experience is overrated. Venters/Kimbrel/O’Flaherty had a collective 10.9 K/9. Wow.
You can never have enough relievers—or starters for that matter. Just ask the Atlanta Braves last year, when their bullpen was overtaxed.
Being a Boras client it’s hard to know if this is real or more spinning to create a market or get more money out of one team bidding against themselves!
This was reported by Heyman who fronts for Boras. All this means is that Madson is getting very interest expressed and Boras has to try to get him back into the news. The Rangers ask about EVERYONE but they might not have asked about Madson for weeks so while technically true, the report may be misleading….Scott Boras…and his pal.
In Jon Daniels we trust.
Adam Jones or some other CF to the Texas Rangers in a blockbuster deal. All we are doing is making Harrison/Holland expendable to be the centerpiece of a deal. Ogando—>Rotation (You forgot to mention him in this article, by the way)
Is this assuming Hamilton leaves via free agency? Jones is a massive downgrade from Hamilton and shouldn’t even be a CF based on his defense.
Yeah…. That makes NO sense.
So Martin of the .316 OBP in AAA last season suddenly a lock for CF? Hamilton and Cruz go down EVERY year, and murphy is a solid 4th OF at best. Murphy is only an average defensive corner outfielder, much less a centerfielder, and are we seriously still considering Hamilton as an everyday CF? Do you follow this team?
If you think the price for Jones is high right now, wait a year or two when he breaks through.
If you think the price for Jones is high right now, wait a year or two when he breaks through. You’re a funny guy Ben!
Also, why trade him if he’s going to finally light it up?
Why would Texas go after a CF? This years OF will have Hamilton (LF), Martin (CF), Cruz (RF), and Murphy (4th). Our OF is one of the best in the league. The only position Texas could look into upgrading is 1B, but Mike Olt will get a shot at that before Fielder or a traded player does.
Not to mention 3-4 OFs have experience in CF. That’s deep. No way they make a run at Adam Jones with his price this high and the Rangers this deep in OF.
We have leonys Martin…
Doubt it will happen unless a bunch of dominoes fall after Darvish signs (ie Josh signs, Ian signs, Colby signs) and if there is still some money left over…
Unlikely they will extend colby.
they should post colby and get a japanese team to pick him up, try to re coup some of the darvish bid money
Why is it unlikely they extend Colby? Sure, he’s 32, and will be 33 in August, but he’s extremely effective. Not to mention that he’s been one of the best postseason pitchers the past 2 seasons. People here love Colby, and it’s not like he’s expensive.
The Rangers might sign Madson if they can find a way to send Uehara back to Baltimore. If Uehara stays in Texas, I think he’s going to cost the Rangers 5 million bucks because of an appearance clause or something. They are not going to pay Uehara and Madson big money and have them both in the bullpen.
It’s funny though most Oriole fans would jump at the chance to bring back Koji, but they wouldn’t feel the same way about Madson. I am the opposite, I didn’t always feel that way, but I would be very happy if Madson came to “Charm City”.
One thing is the Orioles would actually have to bring in a #1 and #2 to help fill out the rotation for Madson to be able to help the cause. This is a problem because Duquette and his predecessor Andy MacPhail seem to be content on bringing in the “Boxcar Willie’s” of the world and anyone with talent goes elsewhere!
I like that term “Boxcar Willie’s”. I may steal that for one of my comments.
The Orioles are not contending this year so Madson seems like a waste of money. Best to keep surrounding the team with cheap fill ins and small signings that could be flipped for prospects. The Orioles need to construct a league average rotation before big bat, and bullpen additions make much sense. If Texas could get rid of Koji though I could def see Madson hitting Texas.
We definitely need Madson in the Rangers bullpen. I don’t have any faith in Tateyama or Uehars and not much in Lowe. If more than one of those three make the team our bullpen is in trouble.
We definitely need Madson in the Rangers bullpen. I don’t have any faith in Tateyama or Uehars and not much in Lowe. If more than one of those three make the team our bullpen is in trouble.