The Red Sox reportedly offered Mariano Rivera a two-year, $30 million contract this offseason, but do you really think they were going to let him replace Papelbon?
The 30-year-old Papelbon only has one year left of arbitration before he leaves or signs a new deal, and Red Sox Nation cannot give up on him yet.
Last year, Papelbon walked a career-high 28 batters, allowed seven home runs and posted a career-high 1.27 WHIP and .226 opponents’ batting average (excluding the 2005 season, when he was not yet a closer).
Yet, he can be a formidable closer again. He may have lost some velocity over the years, but Papelbon still can hit the high 90s and has reliable alternative pitches in a splitter and slider to mix in as well.
Papelbon will bounce back from last year’s drop-off because he knows his role is at stake. Daniel Bard has been phenomenal over the last two years as a setup man, while the team added former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks to the bullpen.
Most players perform best with their backs against the wall. Papelbon enters a contract year and knows his presence in Boston could be in jeopardy.
So why should the Red Sox keep him?
Papelbon remains an elite closer and has both the stats and confidence to back it up.
“When you look at what I’ve done so far, you can’t compare it to many other closers besides Mo [Rivera],” Papelbon said a year ago.
He holds the all-time saves record for a Boston reliever (188) and averages more than 37 saves per season. On top of that, he owns a 2.18 ERA over the last five seasons. Aside from his debacle in the 2009 ALDS, Papelbon has been lights-out in the postseason, tossing more than 25 straight scoreless innings and posting a ridiculous 0.64 WHIP.
He’s also a four-time All-Star and he proved himself on baseball’s biggest stage as he converted the last out of the 2007 World Series.
Before Boston tries to ship Papelbon out of town and replace him with Bard or Jenks, it’s time for Red Sox Nation to embrace its closer once again.
Do you think Papelbon will bounce back in 2011? Share your thoughts below.
