Toronto Blue Jays Need to Trade for Jonathan Papelbon Now
By Jon Flint
Their 2014 season got off to a fast start, but come October the Toronto Blue Jays were once more on the outside looking in. It has been 21 years since playoff baseball has reached Canada and for that reason, Jonathan Papelbon needs to be acquired by the Blue Jays as soon as possible.
He’s a cerebral guy who commands attention and at 34 years old, he still gets the job done. Papelbon converted 39 saves in 2014, all while posting a 2.04 ERA, 2.53 FIP, and .244 BAbip. Awfully impressive numbers considering his poor attitude towards playing in Philadelphia for a dysfunctional Phillies franchise.
if the Jays are serious about getting into the postseason, Alex Anthopoulos needs to go “all in” and make the Papelbon plunge
Papelbon is declining. Most ballplayers aren’t as good at age 35 as they were at 25. But if Mariano Rivera can close 44 games a year into his 40’s, then why is it unrealistic to think Papelbon can’t at least hover around the 35-39 saves mark for a few more seasons? How much would a change in scenery motivate him? What would a return to the AL East mean for Papelbon’s confidence?
At a maximum, the Jays would only have to deal with two seasons of Papelbon. He’ll make $13 million for 2015 and will likely collect on a $13 million vesting option for 2016. Of course Papelbon isn’t worth $13 million a year, but few aging big name players are worth their checkbook weight as it is. Regardless, the Blue Jays are owned by the largest communications and media company in Canada and while they aren’t operating with the Dodgers’ budget, Toronto is far from cash-strapped.
They have the rotation, bats, and solid defense, but the bullpen stands to again serve as the Achilles heel to the Blue Jays.
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A strength of the club before Casey Janssen‘s injury, Toronto’s bullpen afterward gave up numerous games due to late-inning meltdowns in 2014. John Gibbons tried several arms in the closer role, but to no avail. Possibly pencil in Brett Cecil as closer for the spring, but if the Jays are serious about getting into the postseason, Anthopoulos needs to go “all in” and make the Papelbon plunge.
Thanks to the 2014 Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays now own MLB’s longest active playoff drought. The famous Joe Carter home run not only closed out the 1993 World Series, but walked-off Toronto’s playoff appearances for more than two decades. Even more pathetic is the fact Toronto has finished at least 10 games back of the division lead for 19 of the past 20 seasons.
Should he get the opportunity to close enough games for the Jays to get them into the postseason, then Jonathan Papelbon will be free to grab his crotch all he wants in the city of Toronto.