Anyone else think the closer position in greatly overrated? Papelbon got paid way too much, IMO.






Jonathan Papelbon is closing the book on his tenure with the Boston Red Sox.

Papelbon, the longtime Red Sox right-hander who has anchored their bullpen for six years, including a World Series title in 2007, has agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies pending a physical, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.com senior writer Jayson Stark on Friday.


Papelbon
The deal includes a vesting option that could take it beyond $60 million for the 30-year-old, the source said. Another source close to the situation said the physical with the Phillies won't occur until early next week, the earliest the contract could be finalized or announced.

If finalized, the contract would be the largest total package ever signed by a relief pitcher. The previous high was the five-year, $47 million deal signed by B.J. Ryan with Toronto in December 2005.

The $12.5 million average annual value of the deal would be tied for the second-highest ever signed by a reliever.

Mariano Rivera's $15 million a year, in each of his last two contracts, ranks No. 1.

LMAO @ Phillies

Injury protection since Howard probably out an extended time with that achilles. Phillies spending again.

If the Mariners go after Prince, I will ****ing explode. Ryan Sexton part two? **** that.

Huh? do you mean Richie Sexson?

Marlins unveiling new logo live
http://mlb.mlb.com/marlins/

I dont see a problem.

With the way his daddy did em hes gonna be ok...
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no chance CJ stays in Texas.

CJ Wilson is outta Texas.


Glad to see Texas out of the Albert thing. Although with him on that lineup, I dunno how you beat them.

no way Bud lets him anywhere near a team.

Yeah. I hate auto correct.

I'm afraid he's going to be just like his daddy and fall apart anytime now.

Oh man. You're not the first person I've seen say they wouldn't want Fielder. But I think that dude is a straight baller, if we didn't have Hos I'd take him in a heartbeat(not that we'd ever make an offer on him).

The only thing I don't get is how he gets so fat, being a vegetarian and all.. Does he only eat McDonalds french fries and guacamole or what? :shrug:

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They overpaid in years and dollars. I mean seriously who gives a reliever a 4 year contract?

The Marlins signed Jose Reyes to a 6 year, $106 million contract today. Hanley Ramirez will likely move to third.

The bigger news though is that they are apparently very serious about signing Albert Pujols. His agent will meet with Miami either Monday or Tuesday. Lot of buzz on twitter about it tonight. Jayson Stark reports he is their #1 target and they are very serious about upping their offer for him... SI's Jon Heyman has downplayed the whole thing as a joke on twitter all offseason, but tonight he's tweeted that the Marlins are in on him. Said it's like "a whole new organization."

Winter meetings are this week, so hopefully things will pick up.