Throughout the offseason, we'll be taking a look at the hottest news and rumors:
The Rumor: Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon will waive his no-trade clause for a move to the Blue Jays.
Reported By: Jim Salisbury, CSN Philly
The Details: Papelbon informed the Phillies he'd like to play for a winner. The Brewers just signed Francisco Rodriguez to a two-year, $13 million deal, so that rules them out. Papelbon responded by letting the club know he'd waive his no-trade clause for a move to Toronto. The Blue Jays have one of the deepest lineups in baseball, and could use a consistent closer to bolster an already formidable bullpen. The biggest problem is he is owed $13 million in 2015 and has a $13 million vesting option for 2016 should he finish 48 games, which could make him hard to move unless the Phillies eat a lot of that contract.
Last Season: Papelbon was 2-3 with a 2.04 ERA and 39 saves in 43 opportunities. His 90.7 save percentage ranked sixth among 29 qualifying major league closers. His 0.90 WHIP ranked 19th out of 185 qualifying relief pitchers.
SN's Take: Papelbon was repotedly at one time in talks with the Brewers but they opted to re-sign Rodriguez, who had success with the club last year. A move to the Blue Jays may not be best for either party. Papelbon has struggled with consistency the last couple years and is prone to the home run ball, which isn't necessarily a positive in Toronto's stadium. The Jays as a team haven't quite lived up to expectations, so adding mercurial Papelbon probably won't fix that.