Email a copy of 'Could Jonathan Papelbon Be Trade Bait?' to a friend
Loading ...
By Mark Polishuk | at
Email a copy of 'Could Jonathan Papelbon Be Trade Bait?' to a friend
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
hide arrows scroll to top
nhsox
I know this posting is about Papelbon’s trade potential, but from what I’ve heard from Boston media, the Sox waited for Ortiz to get hot and he has. They likely aren’t going to try to move him.
Rich G
Well the Red Sox bulllpen is not much right now so I would say no for now.
Harrison
What would we be able to get for him?
ReverendBlack
Is this Theo or Larry? John, maybe?
0bsessions
This article is off-base on so many levels.
First and foremost, the Red Sox are a whopping 3.5 games back on the Wild Card with only 120 games left to play. Yeah, it’s looking to essentially be a given that they’re not catching the Rays (It’s starting to look like nobody will), but the Yanks are running into the injury bug pretty badly lately and are under .500 over the last two weeks. It doesn’t just SEEM too early to write them off, it IS waaaaay too early write them off. They’re currently playing without 2/3 of their starting outfield and one of their starting pitchers, yet they just went 3 out of 4 against two of the top three records in the AL and came within an inning of taking all four of them.
Which brings me to the other part: Papelbon is NOT having a good season. His saves are up there, but his peripherals are pretty average. On top of that, he’s insanely expensive for a relief pitcher. He’s just not very attractive trade bait. Most teams that are more likely to contend going forward than the Sox are already have an equivalent or better closer, who would want him?
johnsilver
With you on this. Papelbon at this time in an arbitration case would probably be looking at 12-13M as an estimate, more than what he has looked like in my eyes. Bard would bring more in a trade and probably be the guy teams would want, but almost certainly not available.
before the 2009 season, or mid way thru last year would have been the time to move Papelbon if the sox were not in contention, not now making so much unless Boston is willing to eat a chunk of his salary, negating any reason to move him, especially with Ramirez and Okajima be so erratic this season.
ReverendBlack
The number decreases every year of teams silly enough to spend ~$12m on a reliever. Of the small set of teams still that silly and/or desperate enough for help that they’d go for it, what do they have to offer?
It’s just such a goofy proposition. Quintessential no-story sports writing. Hhaaaaatttte Boston media.
Ferrariman
Can’t see a trade. With his hefty salary , I don’t think he would bring in a top 100 pick. Andl if he has limited trade value, the redsox shouldn’t just trade him for the sake of trading him.
BoSoXaddict
A Papelbon trade is a paradox because the Sox won’t trade him unless it’s part of a deal for a BIG bat and no team is likely to offer a big bat for him with his expected 2011 salary. I think it’s been more or less predetermined for some time that Papelbon will be the closer throughout 2011 at which point Bard will take over and Paps will presumably move on to the highest bidder..maybe the Yankees, who knows..I wouldn’t put it past either of them.
ReverendBlack
Yes indeed. I think by “paradox” here you mean “ridiculous idea talked about only by people with nothing else to talk about”.
ZeroZeroZero
Its absolutely ridiculous to think the Red Sox will get anything of value in return for Mike Lowell or David Ortiz. Despite what talking head clowns like Peter Gammons says, other teams arent just going to fork over talented young players to the Red Sox for the hell of it. Unless the Sox are willing to part with Papelbon, Buccholz, or Lester theyre not going to do any stocking up for the future. I only mention those 3 because the rest of the MLB roster doesnt have much to offer as far as trades go (between money owed and age) and trading the kids in the minor to get a productive player for not doesnt make sense for the future. The Red Sox are in a pretty ugly spot going forward if they sit pat.
Steve_in_MA
I agree with you on Lowell because he really hasn’t proven to be an offensive force in his MLB at bats. Ortiz, on the other hand, is one of the leaders of the MLB in batting and HR’s for May, or very close to it (I haven’t checked the latest numbers since seeing .358 AVG & 7 HR’s). He might bring some youth on the trade market if the Sox ate a significant portion of his salary. I strongly disagree with your assessment of the Sox being in an ugly place for the future. Here’s why:1. Gold Glove/Poss. Batting Champ (2010) at 1B/3B (Youk – Age 31);2. MVP/Silver Slugger at 2B (Pedey – Age 26);3. Stolen Base Champ/+.300 Hitter at CF/LF (Ellsbury – Age 26);4. Young Pitching Squad (30/under) – Beckett, Buccholz, Lester, Bard, Delcarmen; and5. Strong/Good Prospects for 2012 – Anderson (1B), Kelly (SP), Doubrount (SP), Exposito (C), Iglesias (SS), Reddick (OF).Are we guaranteed to be champs, far from it. Are we going to remain competitive, definitely. Could we use more youth, definitely. Are we in an ugly spot, I think not.
umair56
I definitely think the Red Sox are in good shape in the future. I especially love the way Theo’s been drafting so you know any extra picks the Sox get will be used well. The Sox definitely look like they’re in better shape in the future than the Yankees, Rays are in a league of their own though.
P W
westmoreland and tazawa too once they get back from injury, both young with lots of upside
BoSoXaddict
You have to remember that there is a very real chance that Westmoreland will never place baseball again. I certainly hope that’s not the case but his priority in life right now is to get himself completely healthy and ensure that he has a sutiable quality of life..baseball is not in the cards for a while.
samuelLsamson
And yet during the off season the Rangers had agreed a trade for Lowell which would have brought the promising young catcher Max Ramirez to Boston in return. This was all agreed and only foundered on Lowell’s medical, specifically his thumb needing an operation. He had that operation and is hitting well enough in limited action to reassure potential trade partners of the health of his hand. So while it would be foolish to expect a top prospect in return for Lowell, if the Red Sox are willing to chip in a decent chunk of his salary (and they were willing to pay 75% of it in that Ramirez deal) then they could get back a useful piece. Theo Epstein has shown he likes to get veterans a new team where they can contribute and be happy. I definitely wouldn’t rule out Lowell being moved on.
Steelslayer
I am a Jays fan and I think it would be stupid for the sox to get rid of him. Yes they seem to need some more offence, but Papelbon is a feared closer and should not be written off based on a few blown saves or as was stated by someone earlier some “average peripherals”. Having a backend bullpen of Bard and Papelbon is awesome considering what other teams have. Hey the Jays are using Kevin Gregg, and while he is leading the league in saves right now, I would much rather have Papelboner
melonis_rex
I can’t see someone trading for Papelbon. 11-13MM relievers are antiquated now, and Papelbon is not a top 5 closer.
I agree that the Red Sox trading him at the deadline is ridiculous, because frankly, they aren’t falling out of contention.
If he does not put up decent enough peripherals to warrant a trade, I’d nontender him, to be honest. Even if the Sox are a huge market team, that money would definitely be better spent elsewhere, and the Red Sox don’t have infinite payroll resources and play in a very tight division.
The money can be spent elsewhere.
Ferrariman
“papelbon is not a top 5 closer”
yes he is.
P W
if hes not a top 5 closers then i dont know what a top 5 closer is…i remember last year he came in for the save a couple times with the bases loaded in the 9th and struck out the side, thats pretty impressive…