Tough break for the Cincinnati Reds and their new closer Ryan Madson who will miss the 2012 season because of Tommy John surgery.
Following an examination in Cincinnati on Saturday morning, the club announced that Madson’s elbow ligament had torn completely off the bone.
Madson never got to pitch in any Spring Training games, and because he was signed to a one-year, $8.5 million deal, he may never get to throw a pitch for the Reds at all.
The Reds did not take out insurance on the contract, because it is club policy not to to have insurance on one-year contracts.
“You feel terrible for him, because he feels terrible,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It makes you sick to your stomach, actually.
Madson saved 32 games for the Phillies last season while posting a 2.37 ERA over 62 games. During the offseason the Phillies tried to re-sign him, but both sides couldn’t agree and the next thing you know the Phillies went out and signed Jonathan Papelbon, leaving Madson without any serious suitors. He eventually signed a one-year deal with the Reds.
Ryan Madson was a Type A free agent and the Phillies will receive a supplemental first round pick (No. 40 overall) and the Reds second round pick (No. 75 overall) as compensation.
