Relief pitchers Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson avoided arbitration with the Philadelphia Phillies by agreeing to one-year contracts Thursday. Lidge got a $6.35 million deal, while Madson’s salary with be $1.4 million.
Acquired from Houston in November to assume the closer’s role, Lidge went 5-3 with 19 saves and a 3.36 ERA in 66 games last season with the Astros. He had the fifth-most strikeouts (88) among major league relievers and the sixth-highest strikeout ratio (11.82 per nine innings).
Madson was 2-2 with a 3.05 ERA and one save in 38 appearances for Philadelphia. He had two stints on the disabled list, and his season ended July 30 because of a strained right shoulder.
Both pitchers have performance bonuses in their contracts.
The Phillies have two other players who filed for arbitration: first baseman Ryan Howard (the 2006 NL MVP) and infielder Eric Bruntlett (also acquired from Houston).