Papelbon Would Join Yankees, Other Clubs

I was actually thinking this as a possibility just the other day. In the class of 2011 both Papelbon and Mauer are free agents and i personally think they either both stay with their respected teams or sign with the Yankees. Having Papelbon be the heir to Rivera would not be my personal favorite idea, but i do think it is going to happen. The Red Sox have many arms who easily could take over the 9th ( Bard / Delcarmern ) so losing him wouldn't be a concern in my opinion. Plus he has been fastball happy as of late and fans are tired of his antics (Nrmaxx lol)

My god FreeSide......not EVERY player will sign with the Yankees.......

If that's the kinda news you want, here's a recommended piece for you.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27656

This guy is a moron

Anybody else notice how much worse Papelbon has been this year?

3.94 FIP is way up from the 2.01-2.45 range he was in from 2006-2008.

He's walking guys at more than double his career rate, striking out less guys than ever before, giving up more line drives than ever before, and giving up more home runs than ever before. He's inducing less swings than ever but giving up contact at a similar rate.

He's still got a 1.86 ERA and 16/17 SV/SVO, but that's because of a lot of luck and his underlying performance hasn't been what it was in previous seasons. Not sure how concerning it is at this point, but it should be something to note.

Did anyone notice when Broxton shot himself into the elite closer talks with Nathan, Soria, Papelbon and company?

The guy posted a 3.13 FIP in 76 innings in 2006. Then he posted a 2.73 FIP in 82 innings in 2007. Then he posted a 2.26 FIP in 69 innings in 2008.

You think that he's got little room to improve, right?

Well, he's got a 0.96 FIP (!!!!!!!) in 33 innings this year. He punched out 14.45 per 9, and he hasn't given up a home run yet.

His fastball legitimately sits at 96-100 according to Pitch F/X, making him one of the few pitchers in baseball who legitimately sits in the upper 90's with every fastball he throws.

Honestly, if you told me that Broxton was the best reliever in baseball, I would have a tough time disagreeing with you.

I saw this headline and just started laughing as I imagined some of the posts that might be waiting.

As for Paps.....sure if he's still throwing it at 95 mph and we haven't developed a Mo replacement by then.

As for Mauer, not happening. Just don't see the Yanks laying out a 8 year deal for a C with a history of back problems. Move him from behind the plate and he's still a great hitter but it's just not the same allure.

Given (1) Red Sox's general reluctance to commit long-term money to bullpen arms,(2) Papelbon's determination to be the highest-paid reliever in history, and (3) his drop in peripherals, which happens to coincide with his refusal to throw the splitter, it might make sense for the Red Sox to try to ride Papelbon to the postseason and discretely gauge the interest of other teams during the winter.

the difference is he went from struggling in 05, then they sent him down, knowing hed be back. He came in 06 bigger and was a middle reliever. He moved into the setup role in 07, and did well, but didnt have a second pitch(slider) with his fastball. When Saito went down with injury, he went into the closer role in 08 and dominated. The funny thing, at the end of the yr, he asked Torre who would close, thinking he did bad, and Torre said 'you, of course'. At that point he got more confidence and has a repitore of 4 seamer at 98, 2 seamer with good movement at 92-95, a dominate slider that just goes down at 90, and is working on a change. He has really been a bright spot this yr, in a great overall good yr for the dodgers. About a week ago in a game, #23 for him, the first guy he faced was 0-21, and 2 walks. It was amazing. His ERA is 1.36, giving up 5 runs, but 2 came in one blown save. he has given up 12 hits in 33 innings. His ERA+ is 310!!!! and a .7 WHIP, with 53Ks. He has been amazing today, and I agree that he is one of the best closers right now.

Yes, I'm sure the Yankees won't sign Joe Mauer. After all, they usually stay away from oft-injured players such as AJ Bur-

OH WAIT.

AJ Burnett is a man made of glass and Joe Mauer has had SOME back problems in the past in addition to being one of the best catchers in the game. You're a fool if you don't think the Yankees are already planning on making an offer.

Posted by: nut bunnies | June 18, 2009 at 05:58 PM
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Yeah, ok....I'm a fool. Mauer is a 6'5 C who missed 53 games in 2007 and about 25 games so far this year. He has an idiosyncratic back problem and will be 28 at the start of the 2011 season. IF he were to sign w/ another team he would probably command a 8 year deal. IF he needed to move from C any time during that period then where would the Yanks put him with Arod and Tex locked in on the corners?

The scouting reports I've read haven't been too hot on Romine's defense. He's got a decent bat as well, but Montero is the big monster in that system.

Romine is more likely to stick at catcher than Montero, but neither is particularly adept with the glove.

FWIW, my 'scouting report' on Papelbon is that his fastball has straightened out due to him changing his mechanics, which he did to protect his arm.

Plainly put, the lights out Papelbon of previous years was a shoulder injury waiting to happen. He may resurface briefly during the playoffs (I hope), but he's a different pitcher now.

He's hittable. Doesn't get the swings and misses against his fastball. Because it's a lot straighter.

If he can find a healthy motion that generates explosive, late movement, to go with the 95mph heat, then he'll be back to where he was.

Time will tell.

haha the Kenny Powers comparison was great because its so true. Pap you are a god in a town with the best team in baseball right now, why are you messing with a good thing.

I don't see Mauer behind the plate for much longer. His bat is too good and he is too big to be behind the plate. Most Yankee fans might not agree, but I'm looking forward to a defensive minded catcher that can handle the pitching staff. Having a guy who can hit at catcher is great with Posada but its amazing how much better the pitching staff does with Molina or Cervelli behind the plate.

By the way Joba is heading towards the bullpen and the eventual closers role if he doesn't start putting it together on the mound. Hughes has looked great thus far this season and unlike Joba is getting better everytime out.

Pap is like a less hardcore version of Kenny Powers

It's comments like those radio blurbs that'll turn Boston fans into Paplebashers in a Fenway hurry. Pitch for the Yankees!? He might as well have said 'Sure, I'd rip off your grandmother and beat your puppy if I'm payed enough. No biggy."

I wonder if these recurrent bouts of self-indulging stupidity by Paps are part of an immature attempt to pressure management into giving him the big contract. The only problem is that Boston is deep in the bullpen and Saito, Bard, DelCarmen, Masterson and maybe even Smoltz are ample ammo as closer replacements. Wouldn't it be interesting if Professor Paps landed himself on the trade list come July? Not bloody likely, but an interesting thought nonetheless. Lets see, Paplebon for (fill in the blank big bat or stud catcher). Has a semi-shocking yet somehow excitingly tantalizing ring to it, don't you think?

seems like the red sox have a lot of players speaking out lately.

This site has turned into Redsox Rumors dot com that last couple weeks. It's really annoying. I don't need to know what some of these guys said on the radio about Pap, Smoltz, Bucholtz etc. On and on and on. I am sick of it.

Posted by: apeeler | June 18, 2009 at 07:17 PM

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and yet, you're reading the post AND commenting?

so he speaks what he thinks; no big deal really. his only play is to pitch well enough to deserve that next contract or go out like manny. they're not going to trade him unless they're blown away.

Some of my fellow Sox fans need to stop crying about this one. We've all been saying this was going to happen and as much of a yutz as Papelbon is, I find it vaguely refreshing that he came out and admitted it. None of the Johnny Damon "Oh, I'd never" B.S.

That said, if he DOES do it, he'll be dead to RSN, but he probably knows that already.

This is why Daniel Bard is not available. I'm pretty sure Theo has considered Paps $15 million a year asking price and the Red Sox will move on. This is a K-Rod situation.

Sorry Melonis but I definately disagree with you on this one, particularly on Pap's open-door Yankee policy (not bashing the Yanks here, just pointing out the obvious inconsistency from a key Boston player's ridiculous statement). For him or ANY player with an IQ above pi (I know, its probably a close call in this case) it is completely beyond reason for that player to publically announce their willing employment availability to anyone who'll show the money...with FA still a long ways down the road...and especially to his own team's closest and most hated division rival (Doh)! Incredible. No matter how 'innocent' he intended his comments to be or whatever alterior motives he might have had from a negotiations standpoint, Pap crossed the line on this one. What's he supposed to say? Well for starters he's supposed to act like an adult (appreciative or neutral...pick one) member of the organization he actually plays for and gets paid well by. You know...that team player thing. Aware of his situation. An anti spoiled-rotten-ungrateful-ego-driven loudmouth kind of guy. A fan pleaser. Be not brain dead. Basically he's supposed to be respectful of his employer and do his job, not blow mouthfarts on the radio. He messed up this time. The fans will likely let him know.

"Isn't Tim a Red Sox fan?"

Doesn't matter. Tim is enjoying being a proud papa so Ben Nicolson-Smith has been running the site over the past few weeks.

1) Ben has been doing a great job overall 2) I'm not sure if he has posted his favorite team. It may be the Red Sox, or it may be one of the other 29 teams...

Likely tere will be a retraction tomorrow like everything people say in baseball that fans don't like.

Also Ben I believe is a jays fan.

Priceless, Sox fans...priceless.

Ho hum. Papelbon is such a flake. A solid closer, but a flake nonetheless.

LOL people people... don't blow this out of proportion as I know pap wont. All he is saying is that he knows Bard (among others) are under team control longer than he is, and his high demands may be well more than the Sox are willing to meet with guys like Bard and Masterson behind him waiting to pick up the slack.

I expect Papelbon will be back in Boston in 2011 and well beyond, but in case the Sox aren't willing to commit (as they haven't been with other players in the past), he is not burning any bridges. The number one team driving up Paps asking price is the Yankees, and he's not stupid. He knows that.

And Ryan I agree with you and whoever posted the original post. His honesty should be appreciated by the fans. However, John Henry, Epstein and Francona don't like when players discuss contract discussions especially when its this early. I would not be surprised if Pap catches a little lip from the front office for his comments.

Memo to Papelbon: Just shut up and Dance!

Papalbon seriously considers himself to be a year-to-year contract player paid for what he does in the present rather than the past. Financially risky move for some but not for a guy who earns his bread performing under pressure nearly all the time. Personally, I like his attitude. Too bad more MLB closers didn't think the same way.....

As for someday pitching for the Yankees if/when his days in Boston are done, I hope they pay him twice, even three times, what he earns in his last year with the Sox.

Even if he pitches "lights out" baseball for TEE he will have had his best years as an eccentric, overpowering reliever/personality in Beantown. No one will be able to say in Boston that Paps didn't give us our money's worth.

He has, and, presumably, will continue in that vein, for at least the next two years. After that, the chips will fall where they may.

Comment*

The Sox have signed plenty of guys they had leverage over to LT deals: Lester, Youkilis, Pedroia... I imagine that they made a fair offer to Papelbon. If he wants to roll the dice, that's his business. If he wants to talk trash, that's his brand name (marketing money in Boston gets a little tougher to come by) he's hurting.

Unlike the Braves with Hanson and the O's with Wieters, the Sox didn't wait until June to bring Bard up. There not only about the dollars.

If Pap had half a brain, he'd get real and sign a long-term deal. Before he blows out his shoulder.

I agree with you 100% and I think you could not be more wrong. If the front office was not loyal to their players, Ortiz would be riding the bench alongside Magglio. I think leaving his options open is what will drive up his value when he hits free agency.

Johnny Damon left the Red Sox for "job security" and wont live in a Yankees uniform past his first contract. Thats not job security considering that the Yankees offered him years. I just gotta say it... Yanksfansince78 you say that we only keep people as long as they are useful. Isn't that how a business is run? If you have an employee who cant perform anymore, what do you do? You let him go. Just cause the Sox are not going to be silly with guys like Varitek as the Yanks were with Mariano and Jorge and give them more than they are worth based on "loyalty"? Thats just bad business, and harms the team.

Santana you're making my point. I have no problem w/ a team releasing a player whom they feel is no longer useful or isn't worth the contract being demanded...that's a business. But the flip side of that is that a player should be allowed to make whatever decisions is in THEIR best interest as well.

Furthermore, it's obvious Paps was asked whether or not he would be willing to sign w/ the Yanks if it ever came to that point and even more important, he stated he would PREFER to stay in BOSTON. What is so hard to understand here?

As for Damon, how clueless are you? Damon didn't leave for "job security" he left because Boston wasn't offering the years and money he wanted and the Yanks did. Is he suppose to take a lesser deal just to please the "Red Sox Nation" or does he take the deal that's best for him and his family? IS there any doubt that the Yanks offer wasn't for more money? Please....get real.

And speaking of nitwits SOXFAN93 now chimes in!

The Boston Red Sox have been very loyal to Tim Wakefield. I think that the Red Sox will sign Papelbon to a long term deal by the end of next year, if not during the off season of this year. Paps admits that he wants to stay in a Red Sox uniform with this statement, "hopefully we can because there's no question I would love to stay in a Boston Red Sox uniform". When he says hopefully we can he means that he and the Red Sox can reach a long term deal. I hope he stays in a Red Sox uniform for the rest of his career. For those who don't remember he came into the league as a starting pitcher. So he could essentially go back to the starting rotation when Bard is ready to be the closer, if the Sox need another starting pitcher in say two years or so.