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Phillies might be close to dealing Papelbon

Milwaukee Brewers are said to be talking seriously about trading for Jonathan Papelbon, but his contract could snarl such a deal.

Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon could find his way to a new ballclub.
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon could find his way to a new ballclub.Read moreRON CORTES / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SIX MONTHS AGO, Jonathan Papelbon sat in his locker stall in the visiting clubhouse at Milwaukee's Miller Park and held court with reporters.

The subject: the upcoming July 31 trade deadline. The summary of Papelbon's stance: Get me the heck out of here.

Perhaps Papelbon finally will get his wish, and, coincidentally, find a new home in the city where he voiced his opinion last summer.

Yahoo Sports reported early yesterday morning that the Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers have had "serious discussions" about a Papelbon trade.

Given the Phillies' eagerness to deal away veterans, and willingness to eat salary, too, the trade could be consummated. Then again, given the complexities of a Papelbon trade - the money he's owed, his partial no-trade clause - it might not be completed as quickly as your average trade.

Although the Brewers reportedly are one of the 17 teams Papelbon can veto a trade to, according to CSNPhilly.com, that won't be an issue. Milwaukee would acquire Papelbon to make him its closer, and holding that job title was really the disgruntled reliever's only concern last summer when asked about the possibility of pitching elsewhere.

On Thursday night at the Phillies' annual winter banquet in the Lehigh Valley at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked whether he'd had any recent trade dialogue with teams on Papelbon.

"There's been some discussion about him," Amaro said. "Again, when it all kind of rolls out, I think teams, as they get closer to spring training, and sometimes in spring training, they'll see as they're assessing their ballclubs that, you know we might need another piece here. So we've had dialogue. We'll see what happens."

Early last July, after recording his 22nd save of the season in a 4-1 win at Milwaukee, Papelbon was asked whether he'd prefer pitching for a contender.

"Of course, man," he said. "What kind of question is that?"

He went on to make it abundantly clear that he wanted out, and that his limited no-trade clause would not be a factor. Papelbon was most convincing when he didn't say a word at all.

From that night inside the visitor's clubhouse at Miller Park:

Q: "You have a partial no-trade clause. Would it be a hurdle?"

Papelbon: (Shakes his head no.)

Q: "So it's not going to be a hurdle?"

Papelbon: (Shakes his head no.)

Q: "Have you expressed that to people?"

Papelbon: (Shakes his head no.)

Q: So you would go to Detroit, one of the places you can veto?

Papelbon: (His eyes light up. He shakes his head with a very convincing yes.)

Papelbon joined the Phillies on a 4-year, $50 million contract in November 2011. It was and remains the largest contract in baseball history for a relief pitcher. The contract expires after the upcoming 2015 season . . .

. . . unless Papelbon finishes 48 games this season.

Papelbon's contract includes a $13 million option for 2016 that vests if he finishes 55 games in 2015, or a total of 100 games in 2014-15. Papelbon finished 52 games last season.

Papelbon has finished 49 or more games in nine straight seasons with the Phillies and Boston Red Sox.

Since Papelbon could be owed as much as $26 million in the next two seasons, money could be a sticking point to completing a trade to Milwaukee - or anywhere else. But Amaro has repeated all winter that the Phillies won't let taking on salary get in the way of a trade if it helps the rebuilding process.

Since he holds a no-trade clause that could veto a move to Milwaukee, Papelbon could demand that the '16 option be picked up by his new team regardless to approve the trade.

If that's the case, the Phillies and Brewers would have to figure out who would pay what portion of the grand total of $26 million. If the Phils aren't willing to take on a vast majority of that figure - and they very well might be willing to - Milwaukee could just as easily move on and instead pursue veteran free-agent closers such as Casey Janssen or Felix Rodriguez, who could come cheaper than Papelbon.

If the Phillies can trade Papelbon, Ken Giles would likely assume the closer's job for manager Ryne Sandberg in 2015. Giles, 24, was 3-1 with a 1.18 ERA in 44 games as a rookie in 2014, striking out 64 of 166 batters in 45 2/3 innings.

Papelbon went 2-3 with a 2.04 ERA in 66 games in 2014, finishing 52 games and converting 39 of 43 save chances. His most memorable moment of the season, however, came on Sept. 14 against the Marlins, when he blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park and made an obscene gesture as he walked back to the dugout.

Papelbon received a seven-game suspension for the incident, which he called an "equipment adjustment" that he said was not directed toward fans.

Wall of Fame

Former Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell heads the list of candidates for the team's 2015 Wall of Fame induction.

Fan voting is underway at phillies.com, and will continue through 5 p.m. Feb. 6.

The 2015 Wall of Fame inductee will be presented by 2014 honoree Charlie Manuel at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, July 31, before the 7:05 p.m. game against the Atlanta Braves. Other Phillies Wall of Fame honorees are expected to participate. Tickets for this and all individual games wll go on sale on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese