Jonathan Papelbon OK with Red Sox “Annual Arrangement”
After signing a 1-year deal with the Red Sox for $9.35 million this week to avoid arbitration, Jonathan Papelbon dropped some interesting quotes about the whole process. In a radio interview on 98.5 the Sports Hub, Papelbon talked about why he hasn’t inked a long-term deal like fellow Red Sox superstars Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jon Lester. “I think the biggest thing in these kind of situations is making both sides happy. As you well know, that’s a really hard thing to do… There’s been two years of an agreement between each other for one-year deals that have been great on both ends. That’s what’s been working, and so far we haven’t been able to iron out a long-term deal… That’s not to say that we haven’t tried… We really tried, and it just king of worked out this way. It’s a thing where it takes two to make it work and it hasn’t, and it’s not really not that big of a deal.”
Both sides understand the risk involved in signing a closer to a long-term deal. While it is widely believed that Papelbon wants to test the free agent market after the 2011 MLB season, he has also made it clear that he would love to stay with the Red Sox forever: “Deep down in my heart, I would love to finish my career as a Red Sox. And I think everybody pretty much knows that, but that’s a very, very hard thing to do in this day and age. And the way the game is now, I have to understand that as well. Hopefully it works out to where I can stay here for a while and win World Series and break records in a Red Sox uniform like my buddy Mo [Mariano Rivera] has done over there in [Yankees] pinstripes.”
Papelbon clearly has a good attitude about the whole situation. Papelbon is already the Red Sox all-time saves leader with 169. Papelbon has performed at a consistent level as the Red Sox closer for 4 straight years now. He has saved at least 35 games and made at least 59 appearances in each of those 4 years. He has a career 1.84 ERA and a career 0.98 WHIP and he has struck out 346 batters in 298 career innings pitched (while walking just 77). Pretty impressive. Throw in a World Series title in 2007 and the fact that he never allowed a single run in 17 post-season appearances until Game 3 of the ALDS against the Angels this past October, and you can see whay he is so valuable. He’ll be 30 years old this November, however, and having logged so many pressure-filled innings during his major league career, the Red Sox also want to make sure that he has the longevity to pitch at this level into his mid-30′s. Who knows, maybe the Red Sox and Papelbon will agree to a deal that will keep him in Boston until he is 35-36. Or maybe Papelbon will keep pitching for the Red Sox on a 1-year basis until his arm gives out. Whatever happens, Papelbon is a stand-up, albeit quirky guy, and the Red Sox are lucky to have him in their organization…
