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Papelbon's timing was exquisite. He saved what was arguably his best year for his walk year, and there was never any doubt -- not after he had turned down a chance to sign multiyear deals earlier in his career in order to collect top dollar year to year in the arbitration process -- that he was going to the team that showed him the money. And no closer has ever gotten a bigger deal than the one just landed by Papelbon.
New GM Ben Cherington saw it coming. That's why, he said Friday, the Sox never made Papelbon an offer. No way, he said, to "bridge the gap" between what Papelbon was bound to get and what the Sox were willing to pay, especially this early in the process. And there was no last-second call from Papelbon's agents offering the Sox a chance to trump the Phillies' offer. Cherington said the Sox weren't owed one, not when both sides were clear on where the other stood.
Papelbon's departure just made Cherington's job that much harder. Barely a month into his term, Cherington has to pick the right manager, the right pitching coach and now the right closer, in a place where mistakes go unforgiven.
ESPN Boston - Timing is everything in closing
First off, props to Paps. He always said his goal was to get the largest closer deal in baseball. Mission accomplished.
I'm firmly entrenched in the 'Keep Papelbon' camp. While everyone else is packing up their sleeping bags and tents and heading home, I'm still hanging out in disbelief. No matter how hard I try to repress the memories, I can still recall what 9th innings were like before Papelbon's arrival. And trying to figure out what they'll look like in 2012 is nearly as terrifying.
But Gordon Edes whips out a silver lining to all of this: There are some quality arms available to fill that slot, and as Tampa Bay proved, you can get by with someone like Kyle Farnsworth dealing in the 9th. Not all hope is lost.
The fact that Cherington never made Papelbon an offer is a bit unsettling. This looks like the third step in the changing of the guard, and I can't help but assume Papi is next. If the Sox do intend to bring Papi back, and are looking for a PR win, it'd behoove them to sign him within the next couple days and follow that by announcing their new manager.
If they aren't going to bring Papi back, just rip off the band-aid and turn the page. I'd hate to get steamrolled by the news that he's agreed to a 3 year deal with the Yankees.
On that note, WEEI has this quote from Cherington: "We have had a lot of dialogue with David and his agents... David knows we want him to be here. We want him to be back with the Red Sox. We want him in our lineup. We've had a lot of dialogue to see if there's a way to do that and I think that will continue."
We never heard that kind of talk about Papelbon; so that's something.
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Rest of the links:
Herald - Red Sox fans: Don’t let bullpen door hit you on way out! | Jonathan Papelbon to Philadelphia | CSNNE - Papelbon sets bar for closers | Globe - Closing thought: We’ll miss his zany greatness | Red Sox close door on past with Papelbon | Quick analysis: Sox may regret losing Papelbon | WEEI - Money in the ninth: Ryan Madson deal raises bar for Jonathan Papelbon, closer market
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