Speaking to John Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said that he saw closer as the teams' #1 priority coming into this offseason.
↵"When we came into the off-season, we identified closer as our most specific need – and that’s no disrespect to Jimmy (Rollins). We wanted a lockdown type of guy, and there aren’t all that many closers with that sort of track record. We’re trying to win more than one World Series. We wanted to find the best player we could for that role. The risk, if you wait too long, is that you don’t end up with that guy."
↵In hindsight, this appears to be obvious given the $50 mil he splashed on Jonathan Papelbon, a contract which some say seems like an overpay given what the market for closers turned out to be.
↵"Markets can be fluid and difficult to gauge. I’m happy with the player we have."
↵Ryan Madson, who was no liability closing games last year, ended up signing a one year $8.5m deal.