Billy Wagner

[WhiskeyBreath]

The reason why Papelbon won't be a member of the Red Sox is because he wants to get paid top dollar, not because of what he says.

[pedroia_the_destroyah53]

Wagner's arm is going to fall off soon. I say we get him so everyone can say how good of a move it was, then you guys can kill him when he starts to suck.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Wagner's arm is going to fall off soon. I say we get him so everyone can say how good of a move it was' date=' then you guys can kill him when he starts to suck.[/quote']

 

That is exactly what would happen.

[RWTP24]

I love that Pap is freaking out. Doesn't he know that he'll be the closer? Well, i did love Phillips thoughts about trading Pap tonight, pretty damn funny.

[User Name]

In the case Paps doesn't end up here because of him wanting too much, I wonder where he'd go? Yankees maybe.

[RWTP24]

In the case Paps doesn't end up here because of him wanting too much' date=' I wonder where he'd go? Yankees maybe.[/quote']

 

That is a good question, but I really don't see him leaving.

[jacksonianmarch]

If Mo is out of NY, then yeah I could see Paps here. That being said, Mo is doing a pretty good job of evading father time. I wouldnt push him out just yet

[example1]

I could definitely see the Red Sox trading Papelbon. He's not going to play their salary game and resign for less, he's not going to accept a longer term deal so they can rely on him. He would have tremendous value in a big trade with other teams who could really use an ace in their bullpen. I know some dispute the ease of getting another big time closer, but with Bard looking effective and an experienced bullpen already intact, I think it would definitely be worth hanging his name out there and seeing who is willing to play.

 

Talent wise he is nearly irreplacable. Money and future to the club wise he might be replaceable or at least useable as a valuable trading chip.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Papelbon's a f***ing dumbass. I can see him being Manny II before very long.

[BSN07]

I love that Pap is freaking out. Doesn't he know that he'll be the closer? Well' date=' i did love Phillips thoughts about trading Pap tonight, pretty damn funny.[/quote']

It's not that far fetched. I said it about 2 months ago I was expecting him to be traded this off season.

In the case Paps doesn't end up here because of him wanting too much' date=' I wonder where he'd go? Yankees maybe.[/quote']

If Mo is gone then yes. I'm going out on a limb and say he is a Cub in 2010.

If Mo is out of NY' date=' then yeah I could see Paps here. That being said, Mo is doing a pretty good job of evading father time. I wouldnt push him out just yet[/quote']

It's unreal. It truly is. As much as a dislike the SOB. He is great at what he does.

I could definitely see the Red Sox trading Papelbon. He's not going to play their salary game and resign for less, he's not going to accept a longer term deal so they can rely on him. He would have tremendous value in a big trade with other teams who could really use an ace in their bullpen. I know some dispute the ease of getting another big time closer, but with Bard looking effective and an experienced bullpen already intact, I think it would definitely be worth hanging his name out there and seeing who is willing to play.

 

Talent wise he is nearly irreplacable. Money and future to the club wise he might be replaceable or at least useable as a valuable trading chip.

 

Papelbon is still elite. But since he stopped using his splitter as his put away pitch he has come back to Earth a bit. A lot of his saves have been the "let's put a bunch of guys on base and see how I can get out of it this time" genre. Add this with the contract issues and I think it is very possible to see the team having a legit reason to shop him. There are a few teams out there that if they add Papelbon would be upgraded immediately to a contender. Like I said before, I'm guessing he's a Cub next year. Seems to fit pretty good. Cubs have a good team. They lack a good closer. The team is running kinda flat this year after the last couple seasons disappointments. Papelbon could be a real jolt in the arm.

 

I'm thinking a Papelbon for Josh Vitters type deal. The Sox have no one real close to taking over at 3B. Vitters might be able to take over for Lowell in 2011. Maybe sooner.

[ORS]

It's not that far fetched. I said it about 2 months ago I was expecting him to be traded this off season.

Sorry, but just because you brought it up does not remove it from the far fetched list. That's the home address of most of your trade ideas.

[BSN07]

Sorry' date=' but just because you brought it up does not remove it from the far fetched list. [b'] That's the home address of most of your trade ideas.[/b]

 

This is true:lol: I was just trying to display that the idea has been brought up before. And that thinking about a Papelbon trade wasn't far fetched. Not just because I had said it. Sorry for the confusion.

[SoxSport]

The NY media would like nothing better than to keep Wagner away from the Red Sox. Pap and Delcarmen are playing right into their hands. Delcarmen is a marginal pitcher the Red Sox have shown a lot of patience with. Don't be surprised if that patience ends off-season.

 

I was impressed with Saito the other night. Maybe he has another year left in him.

 

Pap, by the way, also said a lot of good things about Wagner which have gone unnoticed. His remarks about Gagne show that some in the bullpen are still pissed about Tito going to this guy for four straight blown saves in September. I have to agree. Epstein blew that one. Wagner won't get that chance, for sure.

[Dojji]

Delcarmen is a marginal pitcher the Red Sox have shown a lot of patience with.

 

Marginal pitchers have a career 135 ERA+ now?

 

Delcarmen is about half a step removed from being an elite reliever, and he's about as durable a workhorse as they come. "Marginal" my foot.

[Dipre]

Marginal pitchers have a career 135 ERA+ now?

 

Delcarmen is about half a step removed from being an elite reliever, and he's about as durable a workhorse as they come. "Marginal" my foot.

 

This is laughable.

[Dojji]

This is laughable.

 

True, though. If he was a closer he'd be in the middle echelon of closers. Not great, but not an embarrassment. His command's a bit off, which is why he isn't an elite reliever, but as far as a durable righthander who doesn't get himself in trouble very often goes, that's Delcarmen. No matter what your emotional reaction to watching him pitch tells you.

[RWTP24]

Papelbon's a f***ing dumbass. I can see him being Manny II before very long.

 

Hey, at least Many's ******** was funny to watch after awhile. It's funny, i live in LA and i go to a lot of Dodgers game and he has not changed a bit, yet they think he is god. I guess not having a really big name play on their team in years will do that to you. well, unless Piazza was a big name.

[Dipre]

True' date=' though. If he was a closer he'd be in the middle echelon of closers. Not great, but not an embarrassment. [b']His command's a bit off, which is why he isn't an elite reliever[/b], but as far as a durable righthander who doesn't get himself in trouble very often goes, that's Delcarmen. No matter what your emotional reaction to watching him pitch tells you.

 

Read that again.

 

Slowly.

 

Control problems are the bane of pitchers with good stuff.

[Dojji]

Read that again.

 

Slowly.

 

Control problems are the bane of pitchers with good stuff.

 

Of course. That's why he isn't an elite reliever even though really he probably has the raw stuff to be a starter. However, he is still a very useful reliever and his ERA+ tells me that "marginal" isn't the correct word to describe his contributions to the Red Sox over the last 3 years or so.

[jacksonianmarch]

Wagner has concessions before he drops his NT clause and the Mets want a prospect for him. Wagner wants his option cancelled and a guarantee that they wont offer arbitration at the end of the yr. Theo is balking at that. I have a feeling, this doesnt go through

[Dipre]

Of course. That's why he isn't an elite reliever even though really he probably has the raw stuff to be a starter. However' date=' he is still a very useful reliever and his ERA+ tells me that "marginal" isn't the correct word to describe his contributions to the Red Sox over the last 3 years or so.[/quote']

 

This, i can agree with.

[a700hitter]

Wagner has concessions before he drops his NT clause and the Mets want a prospect for him. Wagner wants his option cancelled and a guarantee that they wont offer arbitration at the end of the yr. Theo is balking at that. I have a feeling' date=' this doesnt go through[/quote']If the Mets just let the time exspire, I don't think Wagner has any leverage.

[BSN07]

Wagner has concessions before he drops his NT clause and the Mets want a prospect for him. Wagner wants his option cancelled and a guarantee that they wont offer arbitration at the end of the yr. Theo is balking at that. I have a feeling' date=' this doesnt go through[/quote']

 

If that is the case it probably won't happen. The Sox need to protect themselves compensation wise. no point in getting him if they have to let him walk while receiving nothing.

[jacksonianmarch]

If the Mets just let the time exspire' date=' I don't think Wagner has any leverage.[/quote']

 

If he stays in NY through the end of the yr, there is no way Wilpon picks up the option with the financial dire straits he is in and I highly doubt he offers arbitration and risks the 8 mil Wagner would get. I think Wagner knows that if he stays in NY, he will be a FA with no strings attached in 2010, and that is what he wants if he goes to Boston

[Dojji]

if Boston picks up the $8M option or offers arb, it'll be more money than Wagner's likely to see in any other offseason scenario, especially if the economy continues weak.

[Dipre]

if Boston picks up the $8M option or offers arb' date=' it'll be more money than Wagner's likely to see in any other offseason scenario, especially if the economy continues weak.[/quote']

 

It's not the money, he wants to close.

[Dojji]

Do you really think anyone is going to trust him with the closer's role?

[jacksonianmarch]

Absolutely. He was a great closer. He had some struggles in Met land, but overall, was a very good player. If he is still throwing 97mph from the left, someone will sign him to close and pay him top dollar to do it.

[a700hitter]

If he stays in NY through the end of the yr' date=' there is no way Wilpon picks up the option with the financial dire straits he is in and I highly doubt he offers arbitration and risks the 8 mil Wagner would get. I think Wagner knows that if he stays in NY, he will be a FA with no strings attached in 2010, and that is what he wants if he goes to Boston[/quote']A 38-39 year old pitcher coming off Tommy John has bigger worries than if someone picks up an option to pay him $8 million. I doubt that he would be worht that on the open market unless he gets to the post season and pitches lights out in the playoffs.

[Dipre]

Do you really think anyone is going to trust him with the closer's role?

 

I could think of a couple of teams.