[ttwarrior1]

Jonathan Papelbon is closing the book on his tenure with the Boston Red Sox.


Papelbon, the longtime Red Sox right-hander who has anchored their bullpen for six years, including a World Series title in 2007, has agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies pending a physical, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.com senior writer Jayson Stark on Friday.

The deal includes a vesting option that could take it beyond $60 million for the 30-year-old, the source said.

If finalized, the contract would be the largest total package ever signed by a relief pitcher. The previous high was the five-year, $47 million deal signed by B.J. Ryan with Toronto in December 2005.

The $12.5 million average annual value of the deal would be tied for the second-highest ever signed by a reliever.

Mariano Rivera's $15 million a year, in each of his last two contracts, ranks No. 1.

Papelbon's annual pay would be tied with former Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million extension during the 2008 season, covering the 2009-11 seasons.

SportsNation: Free Agency



Papelbon takes 219 career saves, with a 2.33 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, with him to Philadelphia, despite pitching his entire career in the AL East.

It remains uncertain whether the Phillies will have to surrender their first-round draft pick next June to the Red Sox as compensation for Papelbon, because draft-pick compensation is one of the unresolved issues still on the table during the ongoing labor talks.

Under the current rules, because Papelbon is a Type A free agent, the Red Sox would receive the Phillies' No. 1 pick, the 31st overall pick, in the draft.

However, the players' union has been seeking to reduce the number of premier free agents who would require a team to surrender a draft choice. So until labor negotiations are completed, neither team can be certain of the new definition of players who would still require compensation.

Nevertheless, a source familiar with the labor talks predicted Friday that Papelbon is still likely to be among the elite free agents who would cost their team a No. 1 pick.

The deal comes after the Red Sox said they would like to re-sign Papelbon, and the Toronto Blue Jays and Florida Marlins reportedly also had expressed strong interest.

[Big Bear]

Papelbon blows so does Bard , i hope red sox let bard be the closer

[Footballtime]

Paps is gone boys............. Redsox wouldnt give him the 4th year for 48 million, and Philly did, So long Paps it was a great ride!

[eidolon]

12 million a year for a closer?
ridiculous!

[InTheDrink]

I read yesterday the Phils were going to reup with Madson for four years at 11 per. Guess that was off base. I fukkin hate pap smear.

[teaserpleaser]

If set up man awesome if hes closer dont like it.

[kfranz31]

the redsox can have brad lidge..he will getr them to the playoffs

[DeluxeLiner]

more like a philly cheesesteak

[beerman2619]

Phillies keep blowing money on the wrong players

[InTheDrink]

If set up man awesome if hes closer dont like it.

Has to be closer. No way they pay same money to Madson now. They were going to pay him less, so what would that leave? Closer by two man committee? Unfortunately money is the decision maker in these cases.

[teaserpleaser]

That will be fun watching my chalk philly plays get blown. Cant wait

[gryfyn1]

hmm, large contracts to 30+ closers..... this strategy never fails.....

[dlunc3]

Phillies keep blowing money on the wrong players

yea, the braves have been so wise this past decade

[lunchbawks]

yea, the braves have been so wise this past decade

braves got julio teheran atleast. thats like winning the lottery

[TobiasFunke]

They should have kept Madsen

[PhillyFlyers]

Papelbon in the National League is going to be the dominant closer for as long as he's there.

[Roy Halladay]

Papelbon is proven in the postseason.

Scott Boras is Madson's agent. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that he was dicking the Phillies around and creating a market price for Madson in order to drive it up, up, up. It's what Boras does. Amaro said **** it I'm not going to wait around and got a guy that's shown he could do it for multiple years. Madson did it for one. We shall see.

[Ninersnut]

For what they were going to give Madison this is a great move.

[MC PICKS]

Welcome to philly jon, now dont fukk up.

[denn333]

Phils still lose in the playoffs.

[Ninersnut]

On a side note, once again Philly's problem hasn't been pitching the past 2 years it's been hitting. A 1-0 loss is still a loss. Fix the fukkin bats Ruben.

[PhillyFlyers]

On a side note, once again Philly's problem hasn't been pitching the past 2 years it's been hitting. A 1-0 loss is still a loss. Fix the fukkin bats Ruben.

They just signed Jim Thome but your right, they need bats to jump start the offense. Jose Reyes would be a good start lol.

[Ninersnut]

They just signed Jim Thome but your right, they need bats to jump start the offense. Jose Reyes would be a good start lol.

I think I would rather have Matt Stairs back. Either way this signing was putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. Ibanez and Polanco need to be shipped.

[PhillyFlyers]

I think I would rather have Matt Stairs back. Either way this signing was putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. Ibanez and Polanco need to be shipped.

Ibanez is gone. He won't be back.

[gryfyn1]

Two closers going from the AL to The NL and their stats the 5 years prior.

AGE 27, 344g, 360IP, 206SV, 12 K/9, 4 BB/9, 2.23ERA, 201 ERA+
AGE 31, 320g, 327IP, 184SV, 11 K.9, 2.3 BB/9, 2.59ERA, 176 ERA+

jus' sayin'

[HoulihansTX]

Pitching was not their problem

[dlunc3]

Pitching was the problem... Cliff lee blew a 4-0 lead in game two... Series would have been a sweep... Either way, cuddyer will be a Phil soon.. Amaro keeps pulling rabbits out of his butt

[Big Bear]

papelbon doesnt have the same velocity on his fastball that once made him great

[dlunc3]

Papelbon made bats miss this yr as good as ever before .. obviously wasn't his best yr, bc when the bats did connect, it did damage.. but the phills love what they see out of him, and he should do very well vs the weaker nl bats... Only thing I don't like is the number of yrs they gave to a closer

[gryfyn1]

papelbon doesnt have the same velocity on his fastball that once made him great

reality disagrees with you.

[PhillyFlyers]

Pitching was the problem... Cliff lee blew a 4-0 lead in game two... Series would have been a sweep... Either way, cuddyer will be a Phil soon.. Amaro keeps pulling rabbits out of his butt

Pitching was not the problem. They had the best staff in the majors. The problem with Lee was that Manuel pitched him more innings last season than he ever pitched before in his career. The result of that was he was exhausted by the time the playoffs rolled around.

Same thing with Halladay. The last 2 seasons he's pitched 250.2 and 233.2 innings. The most innings in back-to-back seasons he's ever pitched.

If you're looking for blame, then blame Manuel.

[beeney24]

overrated douche