Madson still believes Phillies made offer
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Madson still believes Phillies made offer
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
We'll probably never know for sure what, exactly, went down between the Phillies and Scott Boras this offseason. As you probably remember, long-time set-up man Ryan Madson had been under the impression that Boras and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. were closing in on a deal worth $44 million over four years when the Phillies announced that they had signed Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year, $50 million contract.
Boras believed that Amaro had verbally offered the deal, and Madson had decided to accept. But no offer was ever put into writing. Amaro, for his part, denies that the Phillies ever made an offer.
Now, Madson is in Cincinnati after having signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Reds. He will be a free agent again after this season. The veteran righthander recently told CBSSports.com that he still believes the two sides had a verbal agreement.
"I can't prove it. But I do believe it," Madson said. Boras has '"been in the business for 20 years and it's never happened before.'' Madson also pointed out that Boras would have nothing to gain by concocting an offer that never happened.
Madons also said that he has moved on.
"I'm actually glad I'm here," he said. "It's been a nice change so far. I'm really not looking back. I wouldn't have changed it for the world. It is what it is. Everything happens for a reason. You can't make plans. Only one person can make plans.''
And he does not appear at all distracted by what happened, or did not happen.
"There's a handful of theories,'' he said. "I never figured it out. But it became pretty obvious they wanted to go in a different direction. So I just moved on to see who else was interested. Thankfully, the Reds came into the picture.''
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I felt confident with Madson. Never felt as many did he could not close. Ryan answered that in 2011. Mid 90 fastball great changeup good command. I hope he has a good year in Cincy. Im hoping Pap is even better.— Don w- Boras was going to do what he always does --jack up the price and delay the signing. Look he messed up trying that with a number of his guys this year not just Madson. This guys M-O is to drag it out and up the price. From his stand point and the player it works but for a team it is bad, strangles their momentum to move forward on other players. The reality is Boras is bad for baseball.— dmslbw
- Madson's previous contract offer from the Phils was accepted by Ryan against Boras' advice. Dumbazz went and spread the $44MM around knowing RAJ doesn't like the public debate until the contract is actually signed. Maybe this whole "excerise" was pay-back for Jayson.— andivalspoppop
- If I were a player, Scott Boras would be a photo in the bulls-eye of my dartboard, not my agent. The guy may be able to get you an extra million or two, but he's such a sleaze that you'd need to take three showers every time you talked to him. I can't wait for the day Boras is out of the business and the players he's represented feel free to talk about him. That'll be an interesting expose.— Dave Clemens
