Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon spoke Thursday on 98.5 FM regarding his new one-year deal, explaining that both sides are happy with the way the negotiations ended.
"As a four-year guy, that's the area it fell into for us to want to get done, and it's the area it fell into for the Red Sox to want to get done so we didn't have to go to arbitration," Papelbon said on Tanguay and Zolak, as quoted by Boston.com. "I don't think anybody really wants to do that [go to arbitration] on either end, but it's part of the business and you have to understand that. I'm just happy we were able to see eye-to-eye and get the job done."
The deal was agreed upon Tuesday, preventing Papelbon from having to go to arbitration. Though he wouldn't mind a long-term deal, he said he's content with living on a year-to-year basis.
"So far we haven't been able to iron out a long-term deal and it hasn't worked out, but that's not to say that we haven't tried," Papelbon said. ''It's a thing that takes two to work out, and it hasn't, and it's not that big of a deal."
Papelbon was highly efficient last year, nailing down 38 saves in 41 opportunities. Still, his career-high walk total (24) and his unfortunate blown save to end the season left questions among fans of the team. Papelbon said he is using that sour ending as motivation.
"When I'm in the gym and saying, 'God, I've got one more set to do,' and 'Man, I'm tired,' and I look up and that game is on one of the three TVs in my gym," Papelbon said. ''I say, 'Rewind that, rewind that,' every time I'm in there. It gives me that little edge that digs down in my bones and pushes me. It does. It pushes me."
Though Papelbon said he hopes to finish his career in Boston, he sees a future elsewhere as being just as likely.
"I would love to finish my career with the Red Sox, and I think everybody pretty much knows that, but that's a very hard thing to do in this day and age," he said. "Hopefully, it works out to where I can stay here for a while and win World Series and break records in a Red Sox uniform, like my buddy Mo [Rivera] in pinstripes."
