Liberty Ball

The Phillies re-signed Ryan Madson to a one year, $1.1 million contract and in the process, avoided arbitration with the right hander.  Madson broke out in his rookie campaign in 2004 but since then, the results haven’t been quite as good.  He’s still only 26 and while he was hit hard last year, he did strikeout 99 in 134 1/3 innings.  He seems like one of those guys you want in your rotation, but he does a lot better out of the pen so that might be where he ends up, especially with the surplus of pitching that the Phillies have this year. 

The Phillies still have some big names left to sign or be forced to go to the arbitration table.  Chase Utley, Brett Myers and Aaron Rowand are all eligible as is Geoff Geary who is less of a priority.