For everything that’s gone wrong in Philadelphia this season, one of the things that has gone *right* is the performance of closer Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon has thrown 6 1/3 innings, struck out six hitters, hasn’t allowed a run or walked a hitter, and has converted all three of his save opportunities.
But because the Phillies are awful, Papelbon hasn’t gotten much action – he’s had just one save opportunity over the last two weeks, and has pitched just twice over the last eight days.
Naturally, Papelbon is discouraged and wants a trade, according to Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly.
In fact, Papelbon wants out. He thinks he can help a contending team win a championship, and said he will be disappointed if the Phillies are unable to move him this season.
“Yeah, I will be,” Papelbon said in an interview with CSNPhilly.com Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury. “If we continue to lose.
“If we can rebuild this situation and make it right, and we can get some wins underneath our belt and Ryne Sandberg can get us going, that’s a whole different story. To me, that’s a better part of the story because now I’ve been a part of this remodeling. I’ve been a part of getting this bullpen correct. I’ve been a part of something that’s becoming a winning tradition and going back to the way it was before I got here. To me, there’s no better reward than that.”
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Papelbon also made it clear he’s not interested in playing another season clouded by trade rumors. If it’s possible, he wants to get a deal done.
“I will be disappointed if this continues to happen,” he said.
What’s this?
“If we continue to do the same things as we’ve done the last couple years with me, where we try to do something and get something done with me and then nothing still happens.”
I don’t blame him at all. During his three-plus years with the Phillies, Papelbon hasn’t been the same dominant closer he was with the Red Sox, but he’s still been quite good, pitching to a 2.38 ERA and converting 109 saves since he joined the Fightins.
But with a fellow established closer like Rafael Soriano still dangling in the wood on the free agent market, it may be tough for Ruben Amaro to move Papelbon right now.
After Soriano signs, teams will continue to experience attrition in their bullpens, and Papelbon could be a much more attractive option – even if that 2016 option comes close to vesting or the team that acquires him needs to guarantee the option.
