The free-agent reliever market is beginning to take shape ahead of this week's winter meetings in Nashville.

Hours after Baltimore reportedly secured coveted right-hander Darren O'Day, the Oakland Athletics agreed to a three-year, $22-million contract with free agent Ryan Madson, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

The deal is reportedly pending a physical, and includes annual incentives of $1.25 million based on games finished.

Madson, 35, was seeking a multi-year deal this winter after pitching impressively on a $850,000 salary for the world champion Kansas City Royals. The Athletics were considered favorites to land the hard-throwing right-hander, who was also reportedly generating interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Athletics' reported acquisition of Madson comes on the heels of a disastrous season for Bob Melvin's bullpen, which finished the year with 31 losses and the highest ERA (4.56) in the American League. Oakland relievers were worth minus-0.1 wins above replacement last season, the fourth-worst mark in baseball.

Madson, meanwhile, enjoyed a career rebirth in 2015 after missing the previous three seasons due to injuries. The 10-year veteran pitched to a career-low 2.13 ERA with 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings over 68 appearances during the Royals' title-winning season.