Philadelphia Phillies Should Pay Jonathan Papelbon’s Ransom and Ship Him to Milwaukee Brewers
By Mike Gibson
@papreps
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The Philadelphia Phillies have a Big Piece in Ryan Howard and a Useless Piece in Jonathan Papelbon.
It is in that organization’s best interest that they get rid of both before the 2015 season starts. Much to the Phillies’ credit, they have been trying hard to jettison both for a while, but their biggest obstacle has been no other team wanted either guy.
Now that the Milwaukee Brewers and the Phillies are in “serious discussions” about a Papelbon deal, the Phillies should not allow money to get in the way. The Brewers need a closer, but the hang-up is Papelbon’s contract with the Phillies. Papelbon has 17 teams on his “no-trade” list and the Brewers are one of them. In order to waive his no-trade clause, Papelbon wants the option picked up and guaranteed.
The Phillies are in no position to let that money in the way of this unique opportunity. They have plenty of money to pay off Papelbon’s ransom after signing a $2.5 billion TV deal with Comcast through the 2025 season. Papelbon has worn out his welcome with the Phillies fans, making an obscene gesture at the end of last summer that cost him a three-game suspension on top of an ejection by now popular umpire Joe West. The Phillies have their closer of the future in Ken Giles and he has proven in spot duty that he can even be more effect than Papelbon, making Papelbon effectively useless.
The Phillies are looking to the future now and any pieces that tie them to the past, however big or useless, need to be discarded.
Mike Gibson is a Phillies writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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