Never mind that there is no one in the Boston pen that can close like Papelbon, there are few in the game that can close like him. He was having an historic season. He's starting his career much the same way that Mo did, although Mo pitched his first season as a set up guy. Let's not forget that Mo had been a starter when he arrived in NY. After they saw him in the late innings, they would have done the rest of the league a favor if they had moved him back to starter. How history would have changed. Papelbon is not just a good closer or a very good closer. He's a lights out guy. They are really hard to find. If they can have him close for 10 years, it will make the managers life very easy. There is no guaranty that he will be anywhere as dominant as a starter.