The Oakland Athletics filled a key need a day before the start of baseball's winter meetings, agreeing to a $22 million, three-year contract with free-agent reliever Ryan Madson, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said. In Madson, the club has found another proven pitcher for a bullpen that had an American League-worst 4.63 ERA last season for a team that lost 35 one-run games - and the veteran gets to play in his home state of California. ''Arms are still a priority for us,'' A's general manager David Forst said this past week ahead of the winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. More...