It appears Jonathan Papelbon and the Washington Nationals aren’t seeing eye to eye.
The Nationals suspended Papelbon for four games without pay at the end of the season following his Sept. 28 dugout fight with teammate Bryce Harper. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reported Sunday, citing multiple major league sources, that Papelbon since has filed a grievance against the Nationals for failing to pay his salary during the team-imposed ban.
Sources told Bradford that Papelbon feels there is no precedent of a player having his salary withdrawn after such a team-issued suspension. No date for a hearing has been set, according to Bradford.
Papelbon, who was traded to the Nationals from the Philadelphia Phillies in late July, saved seven games and posted a 3.04 ERA in 22 appearances for Washington down the stretch. His skirmish with Harper, during which he choked the 23-year-old outfielder, slapped a bow on a disappointing season for the Nats, who finished with an 83-79 record despite preseason World Series aspirations.
Papelbon, a six-time All-Star who began his career with the Boston Red Sox, is slated to earn $11 million in 2016. The 35-year-old already has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason.
Thumbnail photo via Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports Images
