Embattled right-hander Ryan Madson has left the Boras Corporation in favor of Damon Lapa and Scott Leventhal's All Bases Covered Sports Management, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
It's been two years since Madson, who turned 33 in August, has thrown a Major League pitch. After nearly agreeing to a four-year deal to remain with the Phillies following the 2011 season, he found himself on the outside looking in as GM Ruben Amaro Jr. instead brought Jonathan Papelbon to Philadelphia. Madson would ultimately sign with the Reds on a one-year, $8.5MM guarantee, but Tommy John surgery that Spring caused him to miss the entire 2012 season.
Of the reported near-agreement, Boras told Crasnick in Jan. 2012 that they never rejected a four-year offer from Philadelphia, but rather told Amaro that they would agree to such a deal, and Amaro elected to go in a different direction. Likewise, Amaro said no agreement was ever reached.
Madson signed with the Angels for one year and $3.5MM this past offseason but persistent setbacks in his rehab prevented him from ever taking the field. He was released in early August and is currently a free agent.
Madson was a strong setup man for the Phillies from 2007-10, posting a 3.01 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 before taking over as the team's closer in place of Brad Lidge in 2011. In his lone full season as the team's stopper, Madson piled up 32 saves with a 2.37 ERA and a stellar 62-to-16 K/BB ratio in 60 2/3 innings. Even more impressive is that eight of those free passes were intentional, demonstrating how well he had honed his command over the years in Philadelphia.
Lapa and Leventhal represent a number of Major Leaguers, including Kevin Correia, David Robertson, Eric Chavez, Nate Schierholtz and Brian Dozier. Madson is the second notable free agent to switch representation in the past 24 hours, as outfielder Chris Young made the switch from CAA to Reynolds Sports Management last night.
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As a Phillies fan and a fan of Ryan Madson, I would love to see him come back and resurrect his career with the team he started it with. The Phillies could surely use bullpen help, even if Madson was just slotted as a middle reliever with the potential for late innings if he regained his form and stayed on the field. If he is indeed now healthy, he could be had on a 1 year/ 1 million dollar deal or even less with it primarily incentive based around appearances. He will only be 33 years old this upcoming season which is nothing when your only bringing the guy on for a season or two, plus he’d be considered a “young guy” on the current Phillies roster. He was never a pitcher that relied on veloicty/power to get outs and dominate hitters, he was a movement/location guy with a terrifying change-up that sat in the low 90’s primarily, at times topping out in the mid. It could take the first month or two for him to be productive as it takes time to regain form and establish location and the movement again, but that is a lot easier than a power pitcher trying to regain his fastball/etc. after a long layoff and increasing age. I wish Madson the best, I just hope it comes in Philadelphia!