Jonathan Papelbon Rumors

Red Sox Sign Pedroia To Extension

5:57pm: MLB.com's Ian Browne wonders if the Pedroia signing is the first of several. Will the Sox be able to hammer out extensions with Jon Lester, Kevin Youkilis, and Jonathan Papelbon this winter? 11:33am: Tony Massarotti has the contract breakdown. 11:18am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox signed second baseman Dustin Pedroia to a six-year deal worth about $40.5MM. ESPN's Peter Gammons was right on this scoop as well. The deal buys out two years of free agency and also has a club option for 2015. Rosenthal cites the deals signed by Hanley Ramirez, David Wright, and Ryan Braun...   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Review

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein spoke to the press yesterday, resulting in a slew of articles in the Boston papers. Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe runs through the team's entire 25-man roster. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald looks at Epstein's to-do list, as does Joe McDonald of The Providence Journal. Paul Kenyon of the Journal looks at the team's minor free agents. An overview of various common topics: Jason Varitek. Silverman sees an effort to re-sign him for one or two years, while McDonald thinks he will look for three or four. Massarotti thinks things could get nasty...   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Young Players, Giles, DeJesus

Jayson Stark's latest Rumblings and Grumblings column is chock full of information. Stark rattles off Dan Uggla, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton, Russell Martin, Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Felix Hernandez, Jeff Francoeur, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia as youngsters who do not have long-term deals in the works. With Uggla and Greinke, the opposition seems more on the team's side. With Hamels and Howard neither side wants a long-term deal. With the rest, the player is resisting. The Padres' top trading chip is probably Brian Giles, though a deal would further deplete a weak offense....   Continue Reading

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Young Red Sox Strike Back

Not every good young player is salivating at the thought of inking a team-friendly multiyear contract. Prince Fielder, Russell Martin, and Casey Kotchman are three who seem fine going year-to-year and maximizing earnings. According to Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald, Dustin Pedroia and Jonathan Papelbon are two more players "intent on bucking what has become a disturbing trend." It's mainly the idea of tossing in multiple team options that bristles the players and their agents. Bradford reports that more experienced agents have voiced their concern about the trend to the Players Association. Papelbon, for one, knows he's an elite...   Continue Reading

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Cafardo's Latest: Ramirez, Papelbon, Moss

Nick Cafardo spins Red Sox rumor gold in the Boston Globe. Scott Boras is the spur in Manny Ramirez's side. Cafardo interviews the Notorious One in the Boston Globe today. Says Boras, "Our plan for him is in place. If you can make a player comfortable, you have the ability to make a player play well." So far, so good. He doesn't speculate on the reality of a contract extension saying, "I communicate with [Theo Epstein] on a number of things and I really let the decision-making be theirs. It's rare if they haven't thought about what their future plans...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Papelbon, Darvish, Crisp

Let's round up some morning links. McCovey Chronicles feels that the Jose Castillo signing reduces the Joe Crede threat level for the Giants. Jonathan Papelbon wants to drive the market for closers upward. Keith Law discusses J.P. Ricciardi's decision to overrule scouting advisers and draft Ricky Romero over Troy Tulowitzki for the Blue Jays back in '05. If Yu Darvish is posted after this season, will it cost $75MM just to negotiate with him? From Buster Olney on Sunday: "Rival teams are not entirely sure if the Red Sox are devoted to the idea of trading Coco Crisp." Pedro Martinez...   Continue Reading

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Papelbon Gets $775K

Outspoken Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon signed a one-year deal for $775K for '08. That's significantly more than the Sox had to give him, so it seems they value his happiness. His new salary beats Mariano Rivera's two-year service time closer record of $750K. Papelbon's salary will increase drastically a year from now, as he'll be arbitration-eligible for the first time. He probably won't get the $10MM Ryan Howard did, but something north of $5MM seems possible.   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Papelbon, Fielder, Hamels

Last year, in his final year prior to arbitration eligibility, Ryan Howard was renewed for $900K. This was about twice what the Phillies were required to pay Howard, but significantly less than the reigning MVP thought he deserved. Of course, this year that number has been used as a measuring stick by several young stars that have yet to reach arbitration and are subject to automatic renewals from their clubs. It seems that this year, more than years past, players are voicing their displeasure about the automatic renewals. Prince Fielder is displeased at being renewed for $670K, or about 50%...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Lowry, Mantei, Inge

Link time! The White Sox had a scout watching Noah Lowry's disaster yesterday. Maybe that affected him. Todd Zolecki says Ruben Amaro Jr. is the frontrunner for the Phillies' GM job next year, with Mike Arbuckle the other main candidate. Meanwhile, Bob Ford thinks the Phils should've paid $200K for Cole Hamels' happiness. Looks like Matt Mantei's comeback attempt may come to an end. Despite Jim Leyland's comments, you have to think Dave Dombrowski will troll the market for relievers. Leyland also talked about how he's not going to force Brandon Inge to catch. Jeff Sackmann discusses some clubs that...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Ponson, Inge, Papelbon

Let's round up some Monday morning links. The Cardinals are taking another look at Sidney Ponson. Insert your own punchline in the comments. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun could see the O's making a minor trade for a veteran second baseman if they acquire Ronny Cedeno but not Eric Patterson in a Brian Roberts deal with the Cubs. Brandon Inge is trying his best to talk his way out of town. The Dodgers' recently reported nibble hasn't been publicly shot down, so that's a plus. South Side Sox thinks speedy infielder Eugenio Velez is the type of player the...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Papelbon, Bonds

Your collection of links and rumors... Interestingly, Pirates GM Neal Huntington put out a statement for Pirates' fans. He explains why the Pirates have been inactive this winter, and I agree with the logic. This team doesn't need to be wasting money on mediocre free agents. Justin Huber is out of options, so he'll either make the Royals or end up elsewhere. Athletics Nation paints a picture in which the A's are buyers at this year's trade deadline. A parallel universe with a healthy Rich Harden, if you will. The Red Sox are exploring a multiyear deal for Jonathan Papelbon,...   Continue Reading

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Joba The Starter?

It's been a slow Saturday in the rumor mill so as it grinds down, I thought I'd see where everyone would put Joba Chamberlain next season if you were the Yankees. Experts and statisticians feel that Joba must be in the rotation because 180 innings of Joba next year is more valuable than around 60. Frank Neville for The Sporting News thinks "health permitting, [Joba] can be a 20-game winner and rack up 200-plus strikeouts a year." Now wait, where have we heard that argument before? Ah yes, with Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon has become the most dominant closer in the..   Continue Reading

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Locking Up Young Stars

Locking up young potential star players through their arbitration years has become quite trendy in baseball. Going year-to-year in arbitration with a Joe Mauer type is a thing of the past. A few might slip through the cracks - an unhappy Ryan Howard might not find common ground with the Phillies through his arb years. But it appears that most players are willing to sacrifice $5-10MM to set themselves and their families up for life. Since the deals sometimes steal a year or two of free agency, we can expect even weaker free agent classes in the future despite more..   Continue Reading

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Papelbon Back To Pen

It's not a trade rumor, but it's somewhat related. According to ESPN's Erin Andrews, the Red Sox are expected to announce Jonathan Papelbon's return to the closer role today. Somewhere, Joel Pineiro just shed a tear. Papelbon hopes to become the next Mariano Rivera. My guess is that the Sox will use a stopgap solution in the fifth starter spot until Jon Lester is ready, perhaps by late April. Personally, I like the decision. Baseball Prospectus's Nate Silver summed it up well: "I understand full well that a great starter is more valuable than a great reliever. But in Papelbon’s..   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Should Trade For Lidge

Given Jonathan Papelbon's recent hints about starting in 2007, there's a lot of hubbub about who might close for the Red Sox next season. Let me preface this by saying that I agree with Baseball Prospectus's Nate Silver: Papelbon should remain a closer. His utter dominance in relief, the taxing nature of his splitter, the open question about his ability to throw 200 innings. Why risk it? As Silver says, "A great closer is as valuable as all but the very best starters, once we properly account for the effects of leverage." But say the Red Sox do use Papelbon..   Continue Reading

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