Red Sox, Jonathan Papelbon Close to 1-year, $9.35 Million Deal
The Red Sox and Jonathan Papelbon are close to a 1-year, $9.35 million deal for the 2010 MLB schedule. Papelbon earned $6.25 million in 2009 and he becomes a free agent after the 2011 MLB schedule. GM Theo Epstein and the Red Sox were lock up young superstars Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester and Kevin Youkilis to long-term deals the last few years, but have been unable to do the same with their all-time career saves leader. Papelbon has gone on record stating that he is fine signing 1-year deals until he can test the free agent market for the 2012 MLB season.
Papelbon has saved 151 games in 268 Red Sox appearances. He has a career ERA of 1.84 with 346 strikeouts in 298 innings. He saved 38 games with a 1.85 ERA in 2009, but the season ended on a down note for Papelbon. He had made 17 scoreless post-season appearances heading into the 9th inning of Game 3 of the ALDS against the Angels in October. But Papelbon couldn’t protect the 2-run lead, and the Angels ultimately knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs with a 3-0 sweep.
Papelbon was instrumental in leading the Red Sox to a 2007 World Series title and he hopes to be able to do the same in 2010…
