Nervous yet?
On Thursday, a pack of professional baseball players will become mercenaries eager to sell their services to the highest bidder.
Ryan Madson will be among them.
It would have been better for the Phillies and the fans had the 31-year-old closer inked a new deal with the organization before all these other brazen suitors were allowed to throw themselves at him and tell him how talented he is and how good hed look in a different uniform. Shortly after the season ended, Ruben Amaro said as muchthat he wanted to avoid watching Madson engage in free-agent flirtations.
Wed like to bring him back as our closer, Amaro said. But it takes two to tango. Those negotiations will be private. I know hes excited to be a free agent because hes never been in this position. How it plays out, well see.
And so we will. Unless something unexpected unfolds in the next few hours, Madson will become a free agent. Thats hardly surprising. A lot of people, including Phillies insider Jim Salisbury, have predicted that for a while now (see story). Madson is coming off an excellent season during which he converted 32 of 34 save opportunities and assuaged any previous concerns about ninth-inning jitters crippling his command. Considering that performance and the fact that hes represented by Scott Boras, its no wonder Madson wants a healthy raise from a contract that paid him 4.5 million in 2011.
Thats not exactly good news for the Phillies. The last time they threw money at a 31-year-old closer, Brad Lidge was the beneficiary. That didnt work out nearly as well as the franchise planned. After his perfect season in 2008, Lidge blew 11 saves in 2009 and five more in 2010. He also struggled with command and injury issues over the last three years. In a move that didnt shock anyone, the Phils declined (see story) to pick up his 12.5 million option for 2012, though Amaro said hed like to bring back Lidge at a reduced price.
MLB
Still, if a Lidge-like contract is what it will take to sign Madsonsomething in the three-year, 37.5-million rangethe Phillies would be wise to draw it up and send it over posthaste. They dont have a lot of good options here, and allowing him to walk could prove disastrous.
There have already been reports that Madson could be wooed by one or several division rivals. The Marlins could be among the NL East teams that might try to steal Madson. MLB.com mentioned Miami as a possible destination for the closer if he doesnt return to Philly. Makes sense. Last season, the Marlins used Leo Dont call me Juan Carlos Oviedo Nunez as their closer, but it appears he might have some availability issues moving forward.
Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated reported that meddlesome Philadelphia ex-pat Jayson Werth got involved and tried to push Madson on what a swell place D.C. is to play. Thats exactly what that town needsanother lobbyist.
Madson might not fit that well in Washington since the Nationals already have Drew Storen, a young closer who had 43 saves last season and has five more years before he becomes a free agent. Then again, if the Nationals threw enough money at him in an attempt to stick it to the Phils and bolster their bullpen, Madson might not care so much about his title or day-to-day job requirements.
But the truly frightening scenario hereand, yes, my bring-back-Madson argument, like most of my positions, is rooted in abject fearis less about Madson abdicating the closer throne and more about who climbs into the seat if he leaves. I suppose the Phillies could go the free agency route and target Joe Nathan or Francisco Rodriguez or someone of that ilk. But Nathan is about to turn 37 and he's only a year removed from Tommy John Surgery, while Francisco isand I believe this is the clinical termnuts. Better for the Phils to keep Madson, whom they know and trust, rather than pick up another organizations castoff.
The other, even scarier possibility should Madson decamp from Philly would be an in-house arm. No one seems excited about that contingency, least of all the teams general manager.
There are some people in our system who think Justin De Fratus or Phillippe Aumont can do that, Amaro said. I am not convinced of that yet."
To underscore that particular point, I resubmit some other words that Amaro uttered after the postseason ended. Ive used this specific quote a few times since then, but its so powerful and raw and important that it needs to be considered once more.
"I don't feel comfortable, Amaro said in a moment of incredible candor, with the guys we have internally."
That makes two of us.
E-mail John Gonzalez at jgonzalez@comastsportsnet.com