UPDATE (Dec. 7, 11:00 a.m. PT): Ryan Madson agreed to a three-year, $22 million contract with the Oakland Athletics.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were spurned two times on Friday, first with Darren O’Day reportedly eliminating them from consideration, then by Zack Greinke agreeing to a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Greinke represented the top starting pitcher Los Angeles was in pursuit of, and the same held true for O’Day in terms of relievers.
Now Los Angeles must pick up the pieces and move on to alternative options as they look to upgrade their pitching staff.
While O’Day was a primary target for the Dodgers, they also were linked to Ryan Madson.
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Dodgers are now focused on Madson in light of being eliminated from the O’Day sweepstakes:
On another front, #Dodgers have lost out on Darren O'Day. Ryan Madson is now their top late inning bullpen target.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 5, 2015
After closing a career-high 32 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011, Madson signed with the Cincinnati Reds on a one-year, $8.5 million deal in January 2012.
He tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that spring and never appeared in a game for the Reds. Madson then signed a Minor League contract with the Kansas City Royals in January, which included an invitation to Spring Training.
Madson went on to appear in 68 games, posting a 2.13 ERA and 0.96 WHIP — lower than his 2.37 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2011 — though his FIP last season was 3.09, compared to 2.25 during his last season with the Phillies.
As is believed to be the case with Greinke and free-agent starting pitchers, there should be a domino effect once O’Day makes his decision.
