Jonathan Papelbon wants out of Philadelphia!

Jun 12, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Major League All-Star break is upon us at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio. The players are coming for a chance to meet with their other fellow greats and talk with one another about their joys and woes over the first half of the season.

However, Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, was actually sharing with the media a lot more woes than joys about his time in the city of ‘Brotherly Love’. Papelbon was quite open and honest about playing on a 29 win team and letting everyone know that he would not oppose a move from the Phillies organization, if it were presented to him.

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“That’s not what I signed up for,” Papelbon said. “I signed up with a team that won 102 games, and I expected certain things. It didn’t happen, and I’ve tried to ride that ship and keep my mouth shut as much as I can. But it’s time for the Phillies to you-know-what or get off the pot.”

“I feel like three years is plenty enough time to ride it out, so to speak. If the fans don’t understand that, I can’t really side with them.”

“Here’s the deal: Whether I go to Toronto or Chicago or stay in Philly, the only consistent thing that’s gonna happen is that I’ll prepare to compete,” Papelbon said. “If it’s still in Philly, I won’t be happy. But that’s not gonna affect the way I go out and prepare and compete.”

“This may sound selfish, and it may not. But if I’m in still with Philly, I’m gonna go out there and play for myself and my own name and my own career and my own stats and all that. I’m not gonna just throw it in. I don’t know. Does that sound selfish?”

Jonathan Papelbon is 34 years old, doesn’t sound remotely happy to be associated with the Phillies and wouldn’t oppose a change in zip codes or country.

Papelbon has experience, on a winning organization, as a former member of the Boston Red Sox. He was their 9th inning dominant closer. The Red Sox won in 2004 against the St. Louis Cardinals. However, Papelbon was not on the team win in 2004. However, he helped the team win their second World Series title in four years in 2007 against the Colorado Rockies. The Red Sox swept the Rockies in 4 consecutive games. He’s played in five All-Star games prior to this one in Cincinnati.

The Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays are both said to have strong interest in the closer as both teams could use a shutdown 9th inning guy to end games for them. The Cubs and the Blue Jays both have been using a series of players as their closer with not a lot of steady results.

The Chicago Cubs General Manager Theo Epstein has ties to Papelbon from their days in Massachusetts. Toronto also has interest in Papelbon and, while he has no ties to the team in Canada, he has a history of defeating the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. Papelbon would also love to perhaps show the Boston faithful that he does still have it.

Papelbon’s contract is at $13 million this season. He has an option for 2016 at also $13 million. That might be a huge salary obligation for Toronto to take on.

There’s a ton of pressure as well as turmoil for the Phillies. Manager Ryan Sandberg resigned in June as the team’s manager. General Manager Ruben Amaro has somehow maintained his role as the team’s leader but has little success to show for it. Former Toronto Blue Jays executive Pat Gillick is leaving at the end of this season and this team is a mess!

There are other players that are rumored to be dealt, in addition to Papelbon. Pitcher Cole Hamels, first baseman Ryan Howard and outfielder Ben Revere are just some of the players rumored in discussions. Yet, Amaro appears either unhappy with the trade requests he’s receiving or he is being stubborn and unwilling to deal them.

It is painfully obvious to everyone across the American and National Leagues that the Phillies need to rebuild and send their star talent elsewhere and try to restock the team with prospects.

It appears that the Phillies are at the crossroads. The limelight will be squarely on them when ‘the second half’ of the season begins on Friday. Players appear unhappy and wanting out of Philadelphia, managers are resigning, management are leaving and the team is getting ‘very good’ at consistently losing games.

If you add all of these horrible situations in Philadelphia with what Papelbon said prior to the game Tuesday night in Cincinnati, it would appear that changes are coming. The changes may happen sooner than we think.

Next: Cole Hamels to Texas?

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