Might Papelbon be bringing his energy for another team next year?
With news that Billy Wagner has been traded to the Red Sox coming across the wire yesterday, Sox closer Jonathon Papelbon pulled the old complete 180 in his commentsregarding Wagner joining the team. Sunday, Papelbon was full of fire and fury, quoted as saying the following,
“What has he done? Has he pitched this year?” Jonathan Papelbon told WEEI.com. “Is he ready to pitch or is he not? … I think our bullpen is good where we’re at right now. Don’t get me wrong. But I guess you could always make it better. It’s kind of like the [Eric] Gagne thing, I guess.”
Clearly, Papelbon felt a bit threatened by bringing Wagner into HIS bullpen. Wagner has racked up 385 saves in his career to go along with his absurd strikeout rate of 11.7 K/9. Wagner is 6th on the all-time career saves list. He has achieved, and apparently made Papelbon nervous. Once all of the details were squared away and the trade was consumated (can a trade be consumated?), Papelbon pulled an about-face and had the following to say – clearly the Red Sox brass were in his ear.
“This is just a situation where there’s nothing for me to apologize about. I said nothing demeaning about him. We’ll get along great. I’m actually looking really forward to him coming here – and kind of picking his brain, seeing how he works, and maybe picking up a couple things from him.’’
I’m certainly not the first to suggest that the next 6 weeks may be a tryout for Wagner, with the possibility that he is Boston’s full time closer in 2010. The aforementioned Papelbon would get das boot out of town. Papelbon’s salary is over $6 million this year, and would likely be close to $8 million next year, after which he will hit free agency, and likely earn a similar contract to K-Rod’s massive deal last offseason. The Wagner alternative, (assuming he proves over the next 6 weeks that he is capable of being a closer still) however, would likely cost the Sox somewhere in the $8-$10 million range on a one year deal.
Thus, the question becomes, if Wagner is capable of closing, what can Papelbon bring back in an offseason trade, and does that offset the extra cost and likely slightly worse performance that comes with Wagner? There really isn’t any precedent to work off of given that Papelbon has the 2nd best ERA ever for a pitcher with over 200 IP pitched. However, if he can bring back a prospect that is on the verge of the Big Show and can help plug one of their holes (SP, 3B/1B, SS), the Red Sox may be very likely to pull the trigger. Given the rise of Daniel Bard as a potential future closer, and the massive pay day that Papelbon is sure to command once he becomes a free agent, maybe Papelbon’s fears and insecurities around Wagner are valid.
Blogged Wagner to the Sox – 2 Month Stint or Longer Stay?: – http://tinyurl.com/npkkro #cubiclegm
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