Jonathan Papelbon is sick of the losing.
The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t had much success since signing the All-Star closer, and he’s apparently reaching his breaking point. Papelbon told CSN Philadelphia he’ll be upset if the losing continues and he isn’t traded.
“Yeah, I will be (disappointed if the Phillies don’t trade him),” he told CSNPhilly.com. “If we continue to lose.
“If we can rebuild this situation and make it right, and we can get some wins underneath our belt and Ryne Sandberg can get us going, that’s a whole different story. To me, that’s a better part of the story because now I’ve been a part of this remodeling. I’ve been part of getting this bullpen correct. I’ve been a part of something that’s becoming a winning tradition and going back to the way it was before I got here. To me, there’s no better reward than that.”
However, despite any apparent progress the Phillies have made, they’re still among the worst teams in baseball. Only the Milwaukee Brewers have fewer wins than the 5-11 Phillies. Also, the Phillies’ continued rebuilding might include moving Papelbon to shed salary and/or get prospects in return.
The 34-year-old is off to a really nice start to the 2015 season and could be an attractive option for teams looking to add bullpen depth. Papelbon has appeared in six games, totaling three saves. He’s allowed just one hit in 6 1/3 innings of work and has struck out six without issuing a walk.
Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images
