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Phillies agree to terms with Papelbon

The Phillies have agreed to terms with closer Jonathan Papelbon (AP Photo / Charles Krupa)
The Phillies have agreed to terms with closer Jonathan Papelbon (AP Photo / Charles Krupa)Read more
    by By DAVID MURPHY, dmurphy@phillynews.com
    Published 
By DAVID MURPHY
dmurphy@phillynews.com
Ninth inning, tight game, bullpen door swings open, and out jogs. . .
Jonathan Papelbon?
Yes, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, the Phillies are a physical away from having a new closer in town, having agreed to terms on a four-year contract with an average annual value of about $12.5 million with the former Red Sox closer.
The contract comes three days after long-time set-up man Ryan Madson thought he had a deal in place to remain with the club, which was either a miscommunication between the two sides or a change-of-heart on a part of the Phillies. In a sit-down interview with broadcast partner Comcast Sports Net yesterday, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to address the situation other than to say that any suggestion that a deal was awaiting the OK of president David Montgomery was "unequivocally false." 
Madson and long-time agent Scott Boras were apparently under the impression that the verbal equivalent of a handshake deal had been reached with Amaro on a four-year contract with an AAV of $11.5 million that included a fifth-year vesting option. But the Phillies ended up reaching a deal with Papelbon, who had been a fixture at the back end of Boston's bullpen since 2006. In five-plus seasons with the Red Sox, Papelbon has racked up 219 saves with a 2.33 ERA while averaging 10.7 strikeouts and 2.4 walks-per-nine innings.
Under the terms of the old Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires next month but is currently being re-negotiated, the Phillies would have to surrender their 2012 first-round draft pick to Boston because Papelbon is classified as a Type A free agent.
Madson, also a Type A free agent, could end up netting the Phillies a first-round draft pick if he ends up signing with one of the 15 teams whose picks are not protected by the CBA. The two-time AL champion Texas Rangers are believed to be in need of a closer, but so are the Washington Nationals, whose pick is protected. Last year, the Phillies received a second-round pick after Washington signed Type A free agent Jayson Werth. 
The deal with Madson brings to a close the Phillies career of one of the best relief pitchers in club history. Since moving into the bullpen full-time in 2007, Madson is 21-13 with a 2.89 ERA while averaging 8.6 strikeouts and 2.6 walks per nine innings. In 2011, he converted 32 of 34 save opportunities with a 2.37 ERA. Papelbon recorded 31-of-34 saves with a 2.94 ERA while striking out 12.2 and walking 1.4 per nine.

Ninth inning, tight game, bullpen door swings open, and out jogs. . .

Jonathan Papelbon?

Yes, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, the Phillies are a physical away from having a new closer in town, having agreed to terms on a four-year contract with an average annual value of about $12.5 million with the former Red Sox closer.

The contract comes three days after long-time set-up man Ryan Madson thought he had a deal in place to remain with the club, which was either a miscommunication between the two sides or a change-of-heart on a part of the Phillies. In a sit-down interview with broadcast partner Comcast Sports Net yesterday, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to address the situation other than to say that any suggestion that a deal was awaiting the OK of president David Montgomery was "unequivocally false."

Madson and long-time agent Scott Boras were apparently under the impression that the verbal equivalent of a handshake deal had been reached with Amaro on a four-year contract with an AAV of $11.5 million that included a fifth-year vesting option. But the Phillies ended up reaching a deal with Papelbon, who had been a fixture at the back end of Boston's bullpen since 2006. In five-plus seasons with the Red Sox, Papelbon has racked up 219 saves with a 2.33 ERA while averaging 10.7 strikeouts and 2.4 walks-per-nine innings.

Under the terms of the old Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires next month but is currently being re-negotiated, the Phillies would have to surrender their 2012 first-round draft pick to Boston because Papelbon is classified as a Type A free agent.

Madson, also a Type A free agent, could end up netting the Phillies a first-round draft pick if he ends up signing with one of the 15 teams whose picks are not protected by the CBA. The two-time AL champion Texas Rangers are believed to be in need of a closer, but so are the Washington Nationals, whose pick is protected. Last year, the Phillies received a second-round pick after Washington signed Type A free agent Jayson Werth.

The deal with Madson brings to a close the Phillies career of one of the best relief pitchers in club history. Since moving into the bullpen full-time in 2007, Madson is 21-13 with a 2.89 ERA while averaging 8.6 strikeouts and 2.6 walks per nine innings. In 2011, he converted 32 of 34 save opportunities with a 2.37 ERA. Papelbon recorded 31-of-34 saves with a 2.94 ERA while striking out 12.2 and walking 1.4 per nine.