Bargins from the 2012 Free Agent Market in MLB:Relievers

   Obviously there have been a ton of overpays to free agents on the Free Agent Market. While there have been many lucrative contracts inked this offseason, there have been a few signings which appear to be bargins. (Players who were Non-Tendered will not be covered in this post, since those players are expected to sign for less money than the previous year. Trades will also be excluded).

Ryan Madson

Jason Grilli

Ryan Madson and Jason Grilli are both free agent relievers who appear to be bargins.

   Ryan Madson: Madson signed a one year deal with the Angels for the upcoming 2013 season, and he is expected to step in and become their closer. This deal is a bargin compared to the likes of Brandon League and Jonathan Broxton (more on that in a bit), however the deal comes with risk. Madson has only been a closer for one full season with the Philadelphia Phillies, and as a matter of fact, he filled the role nicely. Stepping in for the injured Brad Lidge, Madson saved 32 games while only having two blown saves, had an ERA of 2.37, 62K, and pitched 60.2 innings. That's impressive, but Madson never threw a single pitch in 2012 for the Cincinnati Reds, and he is coming off of Tommy John surgery. And while Madson has only closed for one season full time, he has been a solid reliever over his career.  Posting a 3.59 ERA, accumulating 547K, and pitching 630 innings. Still, this is a nice low risk high reward move by the Angels, as Madson will make a base salary of $3.25 million and a maximum of $6.75 million.

   Jason Grilli: Grilli is a nice baseball story, seeing as how he has been a journeyman over the course of his career. Grilli made his MLB debut in 2000 for the Marlins at the age of 23, and he was not very effective in limited action. The same can be said about Grilli's 2001 season. After 2001, Grilli did not appear in the Majors again until 2004 when he piched gor the White Sox. After 2004, Grilli found a home in Detroit, and he began to become more consistent. Detroit traded Grilli to the Rockies in 2008 and he pitched effectively. However, in 2009 Grilli regressed and he spent the next year and a half in the minors, but he has been a staple in the Pirates bullpen since. Last season, Grilli pitched to a 2.91 ERA, recorded 90K, and pitched 58.2 inning. Grilli's career stat line isn't going to wow anyone, as he has a 4.34 ERA, 389K, and 448IP, but he seems to have found his mojo in Pittsburgh. Moreover, the Pirates need Grilli to step up as their closer following the trade of Joel Hanrahan to the Boston Red Sox. Grilli's contract is for $6.75 million/2 years, and I believe the 36 year old is up to the task.

Jonathan Broxton

  Brandon League

   Jonathan Broxton and Brandon League were both signed to more lucrative offers than Ryan Madson and Jason Grilli were and for good reason. For starters, both Broxton and League are in their late twenties(younger than Madson and Grilli) and they both performed very well after being traded this past season.

   Despite the reasons mentioned above, I am not psyched about the contract these two inked, and that is not to take anything away from these formidable relievers because relievers are so volatile.

   Jonathan Broxton: Broxton is a two time All-Star, deservedly so, and he has endured elbow surgery. Broxton has posted pretty dominant numbers in his career. Broxton has a career ERA of 3.10, 548K, and he has pitched 450 innings. These numbers are very respectable but compared to Madson's numbers, 3 years/20 million(guaranteed) seems like a mistake.

   Brandon League: League has been an All-Star once, in 2011. League has spent his entire MLB career in the American League with the Seattle Mariners, except for the last half of the 2012 season. League has a career ERA of 3.60, has struck out 309 batters, and has pitched 414.2 innings. League's contract is valued at 3 years/$19 million(guaranteed) which is slightly less than Broxton. But the LA Dodgers had plenty of money to spend, so more power to them.

   Broxton and League are very respectable relief pitchers, but Madson and Grilli are respectable in their own right. Each team signed each reliever in order to help their club, and each reliever is very capable of doing so, but for such a volatile role, low risk, high reward is the best way to go.