January 12, 201214 yr Excellent blog on espn about this pick up. http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/19859/ryan-madson-a-great-pickup-for-the-reds Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty may be too old to do a backflip, but he may be attempting one right now. This is how you build a good team in a small market with a limited budget: Sign one of the better closers in the game for a one-year, $8.5 million contract, as Jerry Crasnick is reporting. Over the past five seasons, only eight relievers with at least 300 innings pitched have a lower ERA than Madson's 2.89 mark. Over the past two seasons, he has a 2.45 ERA, a 126-15 strikeouts-unintentional walks ratio and has allowed just 96 hits in 113.2 innings. In his first season as a closer, he converted 32 of 34 save opportunities. Importantly for the Reds, considering the cozy dimensions of Great American Ballpark, Madson keeps the ball in the park, allowing just two home runs in 2011 and six over the past two seasons. Madson should be viewed as a solid upgrade over Francisco Cordero, whose 2.45 ERA last year masked a pitcher in decline. In 2007 with the Brewers, Cordero was a pure power reliever, averaging 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings. That number steadily dropped during his years with the Reds, all the way down to 5.4 in 2011. Cordero managed to survive last season due to improved control and a likely unrepeatable .215 batting average on balls in play.
January 12, 201214 yr Cordero apparently wanted a 2 year deal. John Fay said the Reds weren't even talking to Madson last week. The Reds gave Coco a deadline and when he would not agree to the one year contract, the Reds basically offered the same deal to Madson and he jumped on it. Somewhat surprising since Boras is Madson's agent. Another nice move by Jocketty. Now the Reds need to get someone with experience who can play outfield. They only have 3 outfielders right now, unless you consider Frazier a 4th outfielder.
January 12, 201214 yr Bob Nightengale says it's worth atleast 10 Million. Huge overpay... Not as bad as this. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
January 12, 201214 yr Details of the trade. Reds To Sign Ryan Madson By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 11 at 1:18pm CST] If any doubt remained about the Reds' intentions for the 2012 season, it has now disappeared -- they're going for it. GM Walt Jocketty continued adding to his new-look pitching staff by agreeing to terms with Ryan Madson on a one-year, $8.5MM deal. Scott Boras represents the right-hander, who will become the closer in Cincinnati's bullpen. The contract includes incentives and a 2013 mutual option. Madson will earn $6MM in 2012 and the deal includes an $11MM option with a $2.5MM buyout for 2013. Madson posted a 2.37 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 48.8% ground ball rate in 60 2/3 innings for the Phillies in 2011. The 31-year-old saved 32 games in his first full season as a closer. The Reds don't have to surrender a draft pick to sign Madson, but the Phillies will obtain two picks this June because they offered arbitration after the season. One selection will come before the Reds' second round pick and the other will come in the supplementary first round. Madson could cash in next offseason if he repeats his 2011 performance in Cincinnati. He appeared to be close to signing a $44MM contract with the Phillies early in the offseason, but talks fell through and Jonathan Papelbon signed in Philadelphia, leaving Madson in a market that has slowed down for relievers. Francisco Cordero had been talking with the Reds throughout the offseason, but it seems unlikely that he'll return to Cincinnati at this point. Kerry Wood also loses a potential suitor. Right-handers Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, Jose Arredondo, Sam LeCure and Andrew Brackman figure to join Madson in the Reds' bullpen mix in 2012. The Reds also have an impressive trio of left-handers: Sean Marshall, Bill Bray and Aroldis Chapman. Jocketty has now addressed most of his offseason needs. He can focus on finding a left fielder to complement Chris Heisey and consider an extension for Brandon Phillips. Last week 17.7% of 13,700 MLBTR readers said they expect Madson to sign with the Reds. He ranked 14th on MLBTR's list of top free agents entering the offseason. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the move. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick added the financial terms and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon and ESPN's Jayson Stark added detail. Photo courtesy Icon SMI.
January 12, 201214 yr With the players the Reds have signed and traded for they now have this much money committed to the team plus whatever it takes for Phillips for 2012. If they have to give Phillips 1 more year for around $12m they will be right about what they spent for 2011, approx. $80.8m. In order to really upgrade the outfield they will probably have to bump the annual salary to at least $85m. This sounds like something they should be willing to do given their "go for it" approach so far. Starting pitching Approx. $19m Relief pitching Approx. $20m Catching Approx. $1.8m Infield Approx. $20m Outfield Approx. $6m Bench Approx. $2.5m Total Approx. $69.3m
January 12, 201214 yr With the players the Reds have signed and traded for they now have this much money committed to the team plus whatever it takes for Phillips for 2012. If they have to give Phillips 1 more year for around $12m they will be right about what they spent for 2011, approx. $80.8m. In order to really upgrade the outfield they will probably have to bump the annual salary to at least $85m. This sounds like something they should be willing to do given their "go for it" approach so far. Starting pitching Approx. $19m Relief pitching Approx. $20m Catching Approx. $1.8m Infield Approx. $20m Outfield Approx. $6m Bench Approx. $2.5m Total Approx. $69.3m Phillips is signed for 12 million for 2012. Their infield makes 28 million plus whatever they go with at SS
January 12, 201214 yr Phillips is signed for 12 million for 2012. Their infield makes 28 million plus whatever they go with at SS Isn't that what I said above? If they have to pay Phillips $12m and can't sign him longer term for less, then they are right around last year's total of $80.8m.
January 12, 201214 yr Problem is there is nobody even worth giving that money to. I don't know if he is still a free agent. However I think Cody Ross would be a good guy to add if he is still out there.
January 12, 201214 yr Problem is there is nobody even worth giving that money to. That's what I'm saying. Rick Ankiel? Ryan Ludwick? Might as well put the money elsewhere and make that part of the club stronger. That, and wait till the deadline. The team that starts the year isn't necessarily the team that finishes it. That's probably the motto Walt is going with this year.
January 12, 201214 yr Ludwick has torn the cover off the ball in GABP if I'm not mistaken. Of course, that could be more a product of Reds pitching.
January 12, 201214 yr Author I don't know if he is still a free agent. However I think Cody Ross would be a good guy to add if he is still out there. As a backup yeah. Heisey should be able to produce what Ross did last year. I will pass.
January 12, 201214 yr Author Ludwick has torn the cover off the ball in GABP if I'm not mistaken. Of course, that could be more a product of Reds pitching. I'd like to see him as a backup.
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.