We all remember Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon saying that the "didn't come here for this", right? Then Papelbon proceeded to go on a terrible stretch of games in which he seemed to blow almost every game he came into? Well, the Phillies hoped to make things right with Papelbon. Papelbon reportedly was not willing to do so, however. That could be why the team hopes to move him.
I heard this first today on MLB Network Radio from @Jim_Duquette and got distracted by the Roy Halladay news and never got to write it. Tonight, Jennifer Royle of the Boston Herald chimed in with this story, too, tonight on Twitter.
The Phillies tried to set up two different meetings w fans after the July incident to repair his image and Pap refused to participate
— Jen Royle (@Jen_Royle) December 10, 2013
Thus, Papelbon is drawing little interest, as the Phillies hope to get rid of him:
Update on Papelbon: after 24 hours in Orlando, they've found very little interest in their closer according to a high ranking PHI source
— Jen Royle (@Jen_Royle) December 10, 2013
Thus, a few have suggested that the Phillies use Domonic Brown as a means of getting rid of Papelbon too, telling the team that acquires Brown that they also have to take Papelbon as part of the deal. That would be a brilliant strategy, though the Phillies would have to get something back in return other than the financial flexiblity unloading Papelbon would give the team.
Papelbon may be a pain in the behind, but for the most part he is a decent closer. So, the Phillies being stuck with him might not be such a bad thing.
