MLB Pitching Rumors: Madson, Buehrle, Danks

Top-a-tha-marnin' to ya! If you're still recovering from the one-minute fight last night, I don't blame you. Pitching continues to be the big story of the off-season (at least until Pujols and Fielder start splashing around...), and today is no exception.

Let's take a look at the latest, which includes new analysis on where Madson might end up (has anybody mentioned Boston?), a concerning lack-of-focus on the bullpen in Milwaukee, yet more rumors on Mark Buehrle, some Dallas rumors surfacing around John Danks, and finally, the most complete Royals-side Sanchez trade analysis you'll read from one of my favorite writers. Enjoy:

• Where will Ryan Madson end up? - The Detroit News
  "The Nationals, confident they're ready to contend, might be interested; the suddenly spend-happy Marlins could be, too. But about that $44M? He can forget about that. The market is too saturated with closers (Heath Bell, K-Rod, etc.)."
• What About the Bullpen? - Brew Crew Ball
  "So, with maybe $2-3 million left over, is there really much Milwaukee can do to improve their bullpen?"
• Market heating up for veteran lefty Mark Buehrle? - The Detroit News
  "The Yankees, expected to be high on Wilson, now are being linked to Buehrle. So are the notoriously thrifty Marlins, who apparently found $20 million in their couch cushions. The Cardinals, his hometown team, are believed to be in the mix, and you've gotta think the Tigers, who've seen him pitch so often over the last decade, would be interested if he can be had for a three-year deal."

• Source: Rangers interested in reunion with Danks - Jon Paul Morosi
  "The Rangers are working diligently to evaluate the available left-handed starters, a major-league source said Friday. One name that’s high on their list: Chicago White Sox southpaw John Danks, who began his career in the Texas organization. The White Sox are trying to move payroll, and Danks is a prime candidate to be dealt."
• For Want Of A Pitcher: Jonathan Sanchez. - Rany on the Royals
  "...And the most obvious point: the Royals did this without giving up a single prospect. (They added one, actually, who we’ll get to later.) The best part of this deal is that it doesn’t preclude the Royals from making another move to bring in another starting pitcher. In fact, I would wager that, when the off-season is over, Sanchez will not be the best starting pitcher the Royals will have acquired." <--Rany also works over at Bill Simmons' GrantLand, but does consistently excellent Royals trade analysis over at Rany on the Royals. I highly encourage more writers (and baseball fans) to think like him: honest, critical, optimistic.