A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that Ryan Madson would be best served signing a one-year deal and then hoping the market opens up next year for him. Madson headed my advice and signed a one-year deal late last night.

Madson signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The deal also includes a mutual option for $11MM with a $2.5MM buyout for 2013.

I think the Reds did pretty good here and got a definite upgrade over Francisco Cordero.

Madson finished the 2011 season with a 2.37 ERA, 2.94 xFIP, 9.2 K/9, and a 48.8 percent Ground Ball Percentage in 60.2 innings. His 2.6 WAR was over 1.5 wins better than what Cordero’s was in 2011. That’s a big improvement for the Reds.

Cincinnati did well in waiting out Madson. The market for Madson shriveled up as if he just spent 8 hours in the ocean. A team like the Texas Rangers has to be kicking themselves right now. They committed two years and $14.5 million to an aging and injury prone Joe Nathan and the Reds signed a much younger and better Madson for half the commitment and cost.

Madson now joins Sean Marshall in the revamped Reds’ bullpen. The Reds have the option to put Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen as well and if they do that, the Reds will have a super bullpen in 2012. They could potentially turn every game into a six-inning game.

Between the acquisitions of Mat Latos, Marshall, and now Madson, the Reds have very quietly had themselves one of the best offseasons in baseball.

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By The Baseball Index