I’m driving to pick up my daughter, and I heard the Red Sox signed Bobby Jenks to a two year deal. The upshot of the discussion on WEEI is that if Jenks is healthy, Jonathan Papelbon will be gone sooner than later, possibly by opening day.
I’m driving to pick up my daughter, and I heard the Red Sox signed Bobby Jenks to a two year deal. The upshot of the discussion on WEEI is that if Jenks is healthy, Jonathan Papelbon will be gone sooner than later, possibly by opening day.
not a big fan of Papelbon, but I do think he is better than Jenks
Jenks signing fills a big hole for the 7th inning. If Paps goes that hole reopens. The 2010 bullpen easily cost the Red Sox 5 wins over its 2009 performance, and Theo does not want a repeat.
Of course, if Paps goes to arbitration, that money is not guaranteed, and a poor spring training could lead the Red Sox to release him and they are only on the hook for 1 month salary.
I do not see Paps going anywhere until the trading deadline though. If the bullpen is in good shape then, or if 2011 is another lost season, then maybe he gets moved. If the bullpen is still shaky, and the Red Sox are in the race, and Paps is having a contract year, they keep Paps.
Red Sox are still 20 million under the salary tax threshold, and 10 million under 2010 salary (assuming Pap gets 11 million) so they do not need to be dumping salary.
Collectively the WEEI crowd generates enough brain activity to light a dim 20 watt bulb, but given Paps will be freed from wage slavery at the end of the season, and Theo hates multi-year deals for releivers, even they realize Paps is going to walk, and so does Theo. A lot depends on the new CBA. If Paps can get them a couple of picks leaving via FA, they are more likely to keep him. If not, Theo would like to get something for Paps via trade, but not if it costs him a chance at another ring.
I can’t see the team paying $12M for a “seventh inning guy”, ptodd. Well, they may have to — cutting Papelbon in March is out of the question, so if they can’t trade him they’ll play him. But it’s not something Theo is looking for.
I do agree with you about WEEI, of course!
Of major concern in my eyes is how Paps will handle this. He will not be happy and will let his feelings be known as he has in the past. This will create unnecessary drama for the Sox and I suspect he will be traded either before the Season starts or during it.
I thought of a facile comparison with the Wettland -Rivera situation with the Yankees in 1995-6. But then you can make another facile comparison with the Lyle -Gossage situation on the same team in the late 1970s.
Are either of these comparisons valid?
@Ed: I think the Gossage/Lyle comparison is better, since they were both established closers. Rivera was more closer in training.