[stevenash]

Paps in a free agent in December.

Do you want management to spend the money and lock him up for 3 years or so, or let him go, and stay inside the organization for another closer, or spend Paps money on another free agent closer?

[jrs362]

Personally I'd like to lock him up and continue with a dominant 8th-9th inning duo of Bard and Papelbon. You don't see many combinations as good as those two can be when they're both at their best.

Unfortunately, I see Papelbon asking for much more money than management really wants to spend, and the Sox just walking away knowing they can slide Bard into that role if they can't get Papelbon at their price.