Most serious Major League Baseball fans -- especially those of the Philadelphia Phillies -- understand that the relationship between the team and closer Jonathan Papelbon is quite shaky, and it did not start that way just recently. The mutual disenchantment between the two sides has lingered for well over a year, and trade rumors have popped up often. The latest has the hard-throwing closer getting scouted by at least two teams -- namely the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs -- say both Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
While both teams could use Papelbon, a proven and still effective closer, to enhance their chances of making the postseason, the Cubs are finally in a position to add talent to win this year rather than build for the future. Cubs president Theo Epstein said earlier this spring that he would do what it takes to try to win this year.
Even though Papelbon is not overly happy with the last-place Phillies, he has not let that affect his performance on the mound. He has pitched as well as or better than expected for a struggling team. Entering play on June 19, Papelbon has the following line: 1-1, 1.01 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 13 for 13 in saves, 31 K, 7 BB, and 1 HR in 26 appearances. He also has one more year left on his contract, so a receiving team would have control over him through at least 2016.
Heyman calls Papelbon "effective but overpaid," but with salaries rising so fast, especially for pitchers, the $13-million price tag plus what remains of this year's salary at the time of a potential trade may come as a bargain for the current 34-year-old with a World Series ring (2007 Boston Red Sox).
Meanwhile, the Cubs could certainly use some help in the bullpen, especially in the closer's role. Hector Rondon started the season as the closer, but with his recent struggles, the Cubs are currently using the infamous but quite often ineffective closer by committee.
Overall, the bullpen has fared much better this season than it has in the past; it ranks sixth in the National League with a very solid 3.29 ERA, 15 saves, and a 15-12 record as play begins on June 19. The wild card-contending Cubs, though, will need some stability in that bullpen if they want to make the postseason.
Jason Motte has closer experience and can still hit the mid to upper 90s, but he is coming off Tommy John surgery. He also looks very good in the setup role, so why move him? The Cubs recently signed Rafael Soriano to a Minor League deal, but he lost the closer's role in Washington last year with a very poor second half. He is not on the 40-man roster. That leaves a void in the ninth inning that Papelbon could easily fill.
The Phillies and their general manager, Ruben Amaro, have also made no secret about their desire to rebuild. Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd are gone. Cole Hamels trade rumors abound. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are likely to find new homes as well. Papelbon could go well before the July 31 trade deadline.
Heyman notes that Papelbon would willingly go to the Cubs or the Blue Jays, but the chances look better for Chicago's Northsiders. Heyman writes,
"Papelbon is said by people around the team interested in going to any contender and willing to waive his 17-team no-trade clause to leave for the Cubs or Blue Jays. One person said he believed Papelbon preferred Chicago.... Papelbon is said to have talked hopefully of a trade to Toronto in recent days. But word is... the Jays are more focused on a starter and turned off by Papelbon's $13-million vesting option for next year. The Jays are also apparently insistent on the Phillies significantly paying down the money left while declining to offer much in the way of prospect value."
The Cubs have the money and the prospects in their Minor League system to make this deal. They also have the manager in Joe Maddon that would get the best use of Papelbon while ensuring that the pitcher does nothing to upset the chemistry that the Cubs now have in their clubhouse.
Papelbon is an established and still very good closer, and with the Cubs' rebuilding plans of the past few years starting to show the promise of perrenial contention ahead of expectations, making this move would show the players and the fans that Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer are serious about putting a winner in Wrigley Field this year rather than later.
