Papelbon agrees to contract

by Randy Booth on Mar 6, 2008 6:08 PM EST in News

The Boston Red Sox and closer Jonathan Papelbon agreed Thursday to a $775,000, one-year contract, nearly doubling his salary.

[...]

Papelbon earned $425,550 last season, when he had 37 saves in 40 opportunities and a 1.85 ERA, then saved three of the four World Series games against Colorado. He hoped to get a multiyear deal but had no leverage. He said he wanted to set a salary standard for future outstanding closers.

"I feel a certain obligation not only to myself and my family to make the money that I deserve but for the game of baseball," he said Tuesday. "Mariano Rivera has been doing it for the past 10 years and with me coming up behind him I feel a certain obligation to do the same."

Good deal. Now let's play some baseball, shall we? I've heard enough crap about getting paid. Let's go win another World Series and we can talk about money against next year.

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Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

Does this mean after this year papelbon is a free agent???

by spinz on Mar 6, 2008 7:31 PM EST reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

correct me if im wrong, but i think he's arbitration eligible up thru 2011.

by Tippecanoe on Mar 6, 2008 9:14 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

I'm pretty sure it is through 2011.

Spinz: all major league players have to have at least six years of experience in the majors before they can become a free agent. They can be traded, of course.

by Liza on Mar 7, 2008 1:11 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

Paplebon is going to be one of the best closers in the game for the next ten years and I know the Sox didn't have to sign him to a long term contract but I think they should if he puts up another season like last year this year. Maybe a 5 year 10 mil per would be a good start.

by E5 on Mar 7, 2008 4:42 PM EST reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

10m/yr would be fantastic, but I guarantee you Paps won't like that.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 7, 2008 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

What do you think he would want then?

by E5 on Mar 7, 2008 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

Considering Gil Meche is making 11m/yr, I think Paps would want around 15m/yr if we weren't talking arbitration or anything like that. Just a straight deal.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 7, 2008 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

I don't see how he would ever think he is worth that kind of money but you might be right. He is a closer and it took Rivera more then 10 years of continued success to achieve that kind of salary. Maybe he wants to set the world on fire with a record setting salary but I can't see any way he is ever going to make that kind of cash until he is a fully fledged free agent. Theo would never pay a part time player this kind of money.

by E5 on Mar 7, 2008 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

I think it's just the way baseball is heading. Above average starting pitchers are getting 10m/yr, easily. Great closers should be getting at least that.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 7, 2008 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

An above average starting pitcher is worth more then even a great closer in the long run. Rivera has single handily changed the outlook on closers salaries and the worth to the team but even still Paps isn't worth 15mil at this point in his career and in my mind never would be. I though the Yankees giving Rivera 15mil was kind of crazy given his age but I guess it was kind of a way to pay him back when he was making very little and giving a lot.

by E5 on Mar 7, 2008 6:15 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

Secondly, I am pretty sure if he took it to arbitration he wouldn't get any more then that given that Francisco Rodriguez lost his case and ended up making 10mil per year. I think Pap will be better then K-Rod in the long run but K-Rod has been around longer and had more more of a case.

by E5 on Mar 7, 2008 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Papelbon agrees to contract

If money is such an issue for Papelbon, perhaps he should clamor to move back into the starting rotation. It's probably better for his long-term health, and even as a middling starter he'd make at least $11 million per year.

by 0157H7 on Mar 7, 2008 6:06 PM EST reply actions