Ryan Madson

AFTER A litany of elbow injuries that included two serious surgeries, the mere fact that righthander Scott Mathieson was in a position to sign with a team in Japan counts as an accomplishment in itself. Yesterday, the Phillies granted his release so he can sign with the Yomiuri Giants. Mathieson, 27, had been with the organization since 2002, when it selected him in the 17th round of the amateur draft. He started eight games for the Phillies in 2006 before embarking on a frustrating series of surgeries that left his career in jeopardy.

Baseball announced its new five-year collective bargaining agreement Tuesday, and the ramifications for the Phillies were mostly positive. The new deal includes blood testing for human growth hormone (HGH) that is scheduled to begin in spring training next year. Major League Baseball will become the first North American professional league to test for HGH. Baseball already had testing in place for other performance-enhancing drugs. Testing positive a first time would result in a 50-game suspension, which is the same first-time penalty for other performance-enhancing substances.

Baseball announced its new five-year collective bargaining agreement Tuesday, and the ramifications for the Phillies were mostly positive. The new deal includes blood testing for human growth hormone (HGH) that is scheduled to begin in spring training next year. Major League Baseball will become the first North American professional league to test for HGH. Baseball already had testing in place for other performance-enhancing drugs. Testing positive a first time would result in a 50-game suspension, which is the same first-time penalty for other performance-enhancing substances.

Jonathan Papelbon said there were other suitors for his services, but he wanted to make things happen in Philadelphia. Thus the former Boston Red Sox closer was introduced to the media after signing a four-year, $50,000,058 contract with the Phillies that includes a vested option for a fifth season. (The 58 dollars were added because Papelbon wears No. 58.) Papelbon, who turns 31 on Nov. 23, was 4-1 with 31 saves and 2.94 ERA in 63 appearances for the Boston Red Sox this past season.

IT WAS JUST after 6 p.m. yesterday when Jonathan Papelbon, in the unlikely combination of a blue suit and red Phillies hat, walked off the Citizens Bank Park pitcher's mound. There were no fans in the stadium, no runs to protect on the scoreboard and not yet the burden that will come with finishing games for the most celebrated pitching staff in baseball. Just give him 5 months. All of those will arrive soon enough. Papelbon will have at least 4 years closing games for the Phillies, who formally introduced the righthanded pitcher yesterday after finalizing a 4-year, $50,000,058 contract with a vesting option for a fifth year.

Ruben Amaro Jr. believes in the formula that pitching trumps all, and he reinforces it every chance he gets. And, so, after acquiring the best available starting pitcher in his first two offseasons as the Phillies' general manager, Amaro pursued the premier closer on the 2011 free-agent market. Two baseball sources said Friday that Amaro got his man when righthander Jonathan Papelbon agreed to a four-year deal worth $50 million, pending a physical. The deal would make Papelbon the highest-paid reliever in baseball history in terms of total value, surpassing a five-year, $47 million deal signed by Toronto's B.J. Ryan in 2006.

Ryan Madson's future with the Phillies is once again in question after a deal that was in the works with his agent Scott Boras stalled before it reached the all-important signature stage. A baseball source said Wednesday that the Phillies closer was ready to sign a four-year, $44 million deal with a fifth-year option at $13 million. But before it could be completed general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. needed to seek approval from team president David Montgomery. The source indicated that the deal was still on the table awaiting Montgomery's approval.

Tuesday was a busy day for the Phillies. In addition to negotiating with free-agent closer Ryan Madson, they entertained Michael Cuddyer, the versatile free agent who has played his entire career in Minnesota. Fox29 first reported Cuddyer's visit, which was confirmed by a baseball source. Cuddyer, 32, hit .284 with 29 doubles, 20 home runs, and 70 RBIs for the Twins last season and is a career .272 hitter. He can fill in at a lot of positions, including first base. After signing with the Phils on Friday, Jim Thome called Cuddyer one of the best teammates he has had. The righthanded hitter would give the Phils a valuable bat against lefthanded pitching.