The A’s also added to their bullpen from the left side this week when they acquired Mark Rzepczynski from the Padres.
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The Oakland Athletics have signed relief pitcher Ryan Madson to three year 22 million pending physical. The one-time Phillies closer became so disillusioned with difficulties following reconstructive elbow surgery in 2012 that he eventually retired, only to make a comeback last season as a standout bullpen contributor for the World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
Madson gradually worked his fastball back up to 96 miles per hour last season and paired it with an excellent changeup. Oakland had a composite ERA of 4.63 and a WHIP of 1.322, the team lost 35 one-run games and the relievers suffered 31 losses.
He appeared in 68 games for the Royals last season, posting a 1-2 record with a 2.13 ERA. He will be an insurance in case closer Sean Doolittle experiences shoulder problems in 2016, he struggled with shoulder problems during 2015 season.
Hopefully what will come out in the next few hours as teams start to arrive for the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee is what other teams offered Madson. “There’s going to be plenty of conversation unfolding over the next 10 days”.
Because of that, there is a risk for the A’s in committing $22 million to an aging reliever who has been healthy for just one on the last four seasons.
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Madson ultimately made the Royals’ roster as a non-roster invitee and thrived.
