Ryno In the Pen

There’s a trend starting.

Okay, maybe not a trend, but on Saturday, December 5th, the A’s signed their second 35-year-old comeback “kid” to their pitching staff.

Ryan Madson came from Kansas City to Oakland on a three year, $22m deal (pending a physical) that will guarantee him a spot… somewhere in the bullpen. Not only that, but his 2015 year with the Royals was his first season pitching since Tommy John surgery in 2012 saw what appeared to be the demolition of Madson’s career, until something drove him back to the mound.

And he didn’t come back quietly. Posting a 2.13 ERA and .963 WHIP over 63.1 innings, striking out 58 and walking 14 out of the the Royals’ bullpen.

Still, three years and $22mil sounds risky at best for a 35-year-old who only pitched his first full season since 2011. Considering it was Oakland that dished the dough for the deal, things only get more bizarre.

Oakland had their collective eyes on Madson for a while and finally agreed to terms on Saturday, which makes it sound as if Madson’s name was a part of some mysterious larger Beane scheme. Only time will tell — and we’ve got three years of that coming up to see what he was thinking. (Hopefully)

Madson, a veteran pitcher, sports two rings (KC last season and another in ’08 with Philly) and closer experience, though he’ll most likely end up in the seventh or eighth inning slot, unless closer, Sean Doolittle, gets injured… Again. Despite his age and time off, “Ryno” can still pop heat in the mid-90’s, and was pitching around 96 out of the pen even at the end of last season.

I’m interested to see how our pitchers gel this season with the new faces and old faces coming back from injuries sustained last season. Lots of fingers crossed, stay away from mirrors and ladders, and maybe Hill, Hendriks, Ryno (and whoever else we end up with) will have repeat performances from last season. Any maybe we can find a way to minimize the names taking up space on the DL. For once.

Dreams are very nice.