MLB - Sports Rumors

Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:24 am EST

Papelbon pops off about contract situation

By Joe Zedalis

Jonathan Papelbon

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Jonathan Papelbon made a few outspoken comments Tuesday on his contract status, which will need to be resolved by the March 11 deadline. His agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, were in Fort Myers yesterday to discuss the situation with the Red Sox. Papelbon confirmed that the two sides have gotten to the point where they won't be able to even get close to working out a long-term deal according to the Boston Globe.

Papelbon is a year away from arbitration, which means that he is essentially at the mercy of the Sox, as to what salary they want to give him when they renew his contract.

"That situation, man, it's a tough situation for me right now because basically I'm at a point to where I feel like the position I'm in, there's a certain standard that needs to be put in place here," Papelbon said. "I feel like with me being at the top of my position I feel like that standard needs to be set and I'm the one to set that standard. And I don't think that the Red Sox are really necessarily seeing eye-to-eye with me on that subject right now. Hopefully we can get somewhere. I feel a certain obligation to not only to myself and my family to make the money that I deserve, but for the game of baseball. Mariano Rivera has been doing it for the past 10 years. With me coming up behind him, I feel a certain obligation to do the same."

Source: Boston GlobeNew Window

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132 Comments

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  1. AlexT
    1. Posted by AlexT Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Come to the Yankees... We would have the best relievers in baseball... Joba, Papelbon, and Rivera
  2. GFY!
    2. Posted by GFY! Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    When you get to the level of Mariano then you can start using his name..until then keep your mouth shut!
  3. E C
    3. Posted by E C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Pap is not Mariano yet. He needs to put up a few more good seasons before running his mouth like that. Bit of a drama queen this one. But then again, good pitchers often are eccentric.
  4. Jon-ErikN
    4. Posted by Jon-ErikN Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    GYF, Papelbon has PASSED Rivera, at this point. That being said, his rant is totally ridiculous. He's doing this for the game? Please, Jonny. Get a grip on reality.
    Why is it that these players always complain when they don't think they are paid enough, but will NEVER think of giving money back when they underperform? Shouldn't this go both ways? Hmmmm????
  5. Anonymous
    5. Posted by Anonymous Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

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    Why can't these guys just say this stuff behind closed doors?? Does Papelbon honestly think that baseball fans who already struggle to afford ticket prices and make proportionately less than him are going to unanimously agree with him that he needs to set a new standard of pay for his position? I'm pretty sure that the Red Sox could plug someone else into that position for less headache.
    And, yes, at this moment in time he is ahead of Rivera who is on the downside of his career. But I don't think he needs to worry about rewriting any standards for his position.
  6. yankeefan4ever
    6. Posted by yankeefan4ever Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:46 pm EDT

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    Papelbon may be ahead of Rivera at this moment in time but baseball is about consistency over a long period of time and there Rivera is definately ahead. He has proved himself beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is probably the best releiver of all time. Papelbon has not come close to doing that. Does he deserve more money than Boston is paying him. Probably yes, but management wants to see him pass that test of time. Papelbon should worry about being consistant and then the money will come.
  7. jd 1
    7. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    7, Down side? Based on what? Get a grip.
  8. jd 1
    8. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    Maybe he could sell the ball the dog ate for a few extra bucks, he owes it to the game.
  9. SoCal Yanks Fan
    9. Posted by SoCal Yanks Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

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    Pap...come on over to the Dark Side. You can even start if you'd like and we can make Joba the closer once Mo decides to retire.
    6/Darth...Let him get 200 combined saves over 5 years like Mo has done since 2003 and/or win 4 WS in 5 years. THEN and only then will he be at Rivera's level. That said, he is still one of the two or three best in the game right now.
  10. katiemegs820
    10. Posted by katiemegs820 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:47 pm EDT

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    thats business, Papelbon. You've gotta do your time just like everybody else
  11. Drew1972
    11. Posted by Drew1972 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    Hey Jon ! When you get to 400 saves than you can compare yourself with Mariano. Wait a minute, you don't even have 100 saves yet !! Shut up !
  12. JS
    12. Posted by JS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:47 pm EDT

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    As our wonderful commander-in-chief, GW Bush once said,
    "he has to put food on his family"
  13. JT
    13. Posted by JT Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    Lovely! As a Yankees fan, any discontentment in BoSox organization is music to my ears.
  14. live 4 surf
    14. Posted by live 4 surf Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:56 pm EDT

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    maybe the red sox are tapped out and can't afford to give him a big raise.
  15. Edwin
    15. Posted by Edwin Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    Get some back bone. I am tired of hearing the same crap, year in and year out. These guys have contracts. Make them stand by them or get out of baseball. MLB needs to address this. Either stand behind the owners and penalize the players or come up with a program that works. A flat plan of no contract negotiations are allowed until the last three months of their current contract (expires). Something, but you can clearly see these ball players are trying to pressure owners into long term extensions a year, two years before their contacts are due to expire.
  16. Citizen Soldier
    16. Posted by Citizen Soldier Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    money he deserves????? please all these baseball players are overpaid playing a game. i go over to iraq and make 50 grand and put my life on the line and im greatful for serving my country! stop whinning about what you deserve and be greatful for what you have you tool!!!!
  17. yankeefan4ever
    17. Posted by yankeefan4ever Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:46 pm EDT

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    I wondered why the Yankees gave Mo 15 million a year. 4 million more than any other releiver. Now I realize they keep pricing the market up so only they can afford the best players. Boston and the other teams are going to have to match the Yankees or lose their players to them. Way to go Yanks!!!
  18. Y@nkee F@n
    18. Posted by Y@nkee F@n Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    Papelbon... the Yankee Fans will embrace you with open arms. Come join a true Dynasty. You'll fit in just perfect.
  19. live 4 surf
    19. Posted by live 4 surf Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:56 pm EDT

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    #22 now that's the yankee arrogance we all know and love.
  20. D
    20. Posted by D Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:38 pm EDT

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    At this time, Papelbon deserves more because he was a contributing factor on a championship team. A very viable WS-MVP candidate actually. Rivera is blowing leads and saves like never before. He still is one of the all-time greats, no debating that, but his prime time has passed. Needless to say, Papelbon better remember how he is treated through all this considering what he has already accomplished for the team at this young stage of his career. If he gets shafted, he can run out his contract(s), become a free agent, make his own choices and go get that $$,$$$,$$$! Its the nature of the business isn't it?!
  21. Idawild
    21. Posted by Idawild Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    Great Job Red Sox,
    You have now practically delivered him to the Yankees in the coming years.
  22. Jon-ErikN
    22. Posted by Jon-ErikN Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    When I said that Papelbon has passed Rivera, I should have been more clear. Certainly, Mo has proven himself over the long haul as maybe the greatest reliever ever. Whether Papelbon matches or passes that only time will tell. Still, at this point in time, if I need a game saved, I will call on Papelbon ahead of anyone else. If I could call on a Rivera of five years ago, the choice would be tougher, but I think either one would get the job done, so it would be hard to make a bad choice there.
    PS: Goose Gossage deserves some consideration here too, by the way. So does Dennis Eckersly.
  23. GFY!
    23. Posted by GFY! Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    I just looked at Pappelbon's picture and figured out a way he could make some extra cash. Now all he needs is a set of knee pads. BTW....#21 Thanks for serving. Us Yankee fans definitely appreciate it.
  24. groundford
    24. Posted by groundford Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    What a cry baby. True he is one of the best relievers in baseball and by baseball standards should be paid the going rate. However, it stills boils down to they all in all sports are paid to much. Plus can't stand a cry baby. Lets see they pitch what a total of 75 innings to around a 100 per season.
  25. Dooley
    25. Posted by Dooley Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Sadly, Paplebon and Mariano are both a notch below Todd Jones.

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