The Philadelphia Phillies are in last place in the National League East with veteran players that can help a contender make a postseason push. One of those players, closer Jonathan Papelbon, is growing impatient with the lack of a deal to send him to a contender.
Papelbon at All Star press conference says it's time for Phillies "to (blank) or get off the pot." Re: trade
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) July 13, 2015
Despite the Phillies’ dreadful season, Papelbon is having another fine year. He’s 1-1 with a sparkling 1.60 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. He has recorded 14 saves, and hasn’t blown a single save chance yet this year. Papelbon has also seen his ground ball rate jump nine points, and his fly ball rate dip seven percentage points; his velocity has remained consistent as well, meaning teams in smaller ballparks need not worry that they’re taking on an expensive reliever who won’t live up to the price tag in a new setting.
Right now, Papelbon’s price is the only thing keeping him from being one of the most valuable trade chips in baseball. Papelbon is making $13 million this season and next, a large guarantee for a player who will turn 35 next season. Negotiations with the Phillies will not be easy, because the level of compensation they expect in return will vary depending on how much salary the acquiring team will assume.
The leading candidates to acquire Papelbon would be the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Houston Astros, three teams that may have serviceable ninth-inning men, but need depth as well as a closer.
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