Jonathan Papelbon to Toronto Blue Jays… finally?
At the start of the 2015 Major League Baseball season, there are teams that have had many of questions answered. Some are still searching for a winning formula.
Although Brett Cecil has been anointed the closer of the Toronto Blue Jays, things may not be as steady as first thought with Cecil staying at the helm.
Philadelphia Phillies closer, Jonathan Papelbon, is owed $13 million this summer. $13 million is owed for the 2016 season if he finishes 48 games this summer. This past offseason the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers kicked the tires to acquire Papelbon but could not come to arrive at a deal.
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Last Friday, Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was spotted at the Phillies’ spring training game. Toronto plays their Spring Training games in Dunedin, FL, while Philadelphia plays close by in Clearwater. There is a history between these two teams. Toronto and Philadelphia were the two teams involved in the Roy Halladay trade in 2009. Trading Halladay to Philadelphia paved the way for a Philadelphia visit to the playoffs in 2010, but they could not win a title. Toronto moved Halladay for a series of prospects. A deal for Papelbon would probably require Anthopolous to move prospects again for a veteran asset.
Toronto allowed reliever and former closer Casey Janssen to leave via free agency for the Washington Nationals. Toronto finished last season with the 25th worst team ERA and bringing Papelbon into the fold would be costly but beneficial to their playoff aspirations in the American League East.
At the game Anthopoulos attended, Papelbon pitched a scoreless inning possibly increasing the chances of uniting Philadelphia and Toronto in further trade discussions.
Toronto has had interest in Papelbon this offseason and there appears to be a mutual interest by Papelbon himself playing in Canada. The Blue Jays are already entering the 2015 season without Marcus Stroman due to a torn ACL and there is already added pressure on Anthopoulos and Gibbons to win now and possibly save their jobs.
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Papelbon came to the big leagues as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. He has a past history with the AL East as a veteran pitcher who has won two World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, both with the Red Sox. He caused fits during the 2004 ALCS versus the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers were ahead 3 games to none and the season collapsed the rest of the way for New York. Papelbon was integral during that series as he closed out games and helped Boston bring home their first World Series championship since 1918. That was quite some time ago, however.
Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has been seen lately as having a stubborn attitude with his unwillingness to move his high priced talents for youth and prospects. Over the years whether it has been reference to Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard or now Papelbon, the players may have changed, but Amaro’s stance has not. Phillies€™ fans are probably sick and tired of seeing the team driving along the same groove expecting different results. They have not won in years.
Keeping the same roster year after year clearly has not worked. It has ended with the team being on the outside looking in come the playoffs and not being welcomed to the big dance.
It is still undecided whether Anthopoulos and Amaro can come to a deal before the season starts on Sunday. Toronto needs to win now. The Phillies agenda needs to change. Fans of the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies will give management pressure to be proactive. The question becomes whether the pressure will reunite the two of them and ultimately consummate a trade?