Every August big name players become available. Whether it be an outright release or placement on waivers, these players are in that position for a variety of reasons. Some teams need some financial relief from a troublesome contract. In certain instances, the player has become surplus to requirements, either by a trade or call-up from the Minor Leagues. Sometimes the player just isn’t good enough anymore to warrant roster inclusion. Then you have Jonathan Papelbon, a mixture of all three with a sprinkling of pitiful attitude for good measure. The former All-Star was released last week by the Washington Nationals. And your team should not want to sign him.
Papelbon rose to prominence as the enigmatic, River dancing, fist-pumping closer for the Boston Red Sox. His antics were beloved by Red Sox Nation because he was closing out not only games, but World Series. He talked the talk and subsequently walked the walk. He was the perfect fit in the “band of idiots” that took baseball by storm in Beantown. But that man is long gone.
His pitch arsenal is collapsing in on itself. He can still ramp up his fastball in the mid-90’s, but not consistent enough to make his secondary pitches more effective. His location has been atrocious as well. He had more walks in 37 appearances than he did in five previous completed seasons. His stubbornness and refusal for demotion of duties was meddlesome as well. That all reached a head when the Nats acquired All-Star Pirates closer Mark Melancon at the trade deadline. Papelbon’s leverage evaporated. And not too long thereafter he was on the open market.
Now there are plenty of teams in contention desperate for help in the bullpen. The AL West leading Rangers have the worst bullpen ERA in the MLB and seem to have a new guy go down each week. They’ve blown game after game late on. But still they are steering clear of Papelbon. However, it seems they are the only big team making that declaration at the moment.
The best team in the Bigs, the Chicago Cubs, have been dealt similar injury cards, losing Joe Smith, Pedro Strop, and Hector Rondon all in a week’s time. They are run by Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, two men very familiar with Papelbon under better circumstances. They’ve kicked tires on a possible North Side reunion.
But his old front office isn’t the only old friend making inquiries. His former team, the Red Sox, and former manager, Cleveland’s Terry Francona, are also in the mix to add Papelbon to their complex equations.
Former teammates have come out in overwhelming support of his joining their squad. Jon Lester would welcome him with open arms in Chicago. Big Papi David Ortiz wants him back in Boston. They laude the “good ole days” and want a rekindling of what was. The thing is, good days are no longer a thing when it comes to rostering Jonathan Papelbon.
His 2016 season is no doubt the worst of his career. From the antiquated statistics to sabermetrics, every number illustrates Papelbon’s descent from greatness to below mediocrity. But the sad thing, and scary one for any prospective new employer, is that he hasn’t grasped that yet. He still pitches as if his fastball is coming out at 100 MPH and that slider is swooping in right afterwards to melt your shoelaces. His challenging of hitters early in counts is no longer a strength, but instead easy pickings for the opposition. This will be his second season ever in which he doesn’t record an above 0.0 WAR. Despite whatever defects your favorite team’s bullpen may have, Jonathan Papelbon is not the cure.
But once again it isn’t just his dwindling usefulness on the mound that should scare teams off. It is a lack of self-awareness. Papelbon has always been a “jerk” for a lack of more expressive terminology. He more than likely always will be. That’s all well in good though when you are a youngster nailing down games and have built camaraderie with both your teammates and city. When you are 35 and supposed to be a veteran presence, choking out your team’s best player is no longer firey, it’s just stupid. Papelbon never made that transition.
Bringing in Jonathan Papelbon to a contending dressing room is the best recipe for disaster any of these contenders can even dream of cooking. His ability is fading, his attitude is deplorable, and worst of all he doesn’t seem to know or care about either. While his resume has trophies on it and his signing may steal your favorite team the headlines for a day or two, know full well that this version of Jonathan Papelbon isn’t winning your team a title. In fact, he could very well be the thing that keeps you from celebrating one.