The 2015 season began and Jonathan Papelbon was still a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. Rumors over the offseason connected Papelbon to the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers, but nothing ever materialized. Now that the 2015 season is underway and the Phillies are continuously losing, how does Papelbon feel about it?
CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury sat down with Papelbon, and Papelbon said that he would indeed like to be out of Philadelphia in 2015, if the team is going to lose:
But if you have listened closely to the Phillies' outspoken closer, who is four saves away from breaking the club's all-time record in that category, it's clear he's doesn't think that's possible with their current lineup.
In fact, Papelbon wants out. He thinks he can help a contending team win a championship, and said he will be disappointed if the Phillies are unable to move him this season.
"Yeah, I will be," Papelbon said in an interview with CSNPhilly.com Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury. "If we continue to lose."
Papelbon said to Salisbury that he has no problem if the team turns it around, and takes credit for helping to rebuild the Phillies' bullpen:
"If we can rebuild this situation and make it right, and we can get some wins underneath our belt and Ryne Sandberg can get us going, that's a whole different story. To me, that's a better part of the story because now I've been a part of this remodeling. I've been a part of getting this bullpen correct. I've been a part of something that's becoming a winning tradition and going back to the way it was before I got here. To me, there's no better reward than that."
Finally, Papelbon said that he had no regrets in signing with the Phillies.
The Phillies might have a suitor for Papelbon in the Detroit Tigers. Tigers closer Joe Nathan will miss the rest of the 2015 season and likely beyond with Nathan's second "Tommy John" surgery looming. The Tigers added reliever Joakim Soria last season in the midst of Nathan's troubles, but Soria too was soon injured. Soria got an opportunity at closer upon Nathan's injury before they knew it was season-ending. The Tigers may be content with seeing how Soria does for now.
Papelbon is in the fourth year of a four-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Phillies prior to the 2012 season. Papelbon is earning $13 million this season, the last year of the deal. But, should Papelbon finish 48 games this season, the Phillies or whatever team acquires him is on the hook for another $13 million next season. With three full healthy and productive seasons, Papelbon is closing in on the Phillies' all-time saves record.
