When a player is dealing the way Jonathan Papelbon is, but is still seeing their team rack up losses, the frustration is eventually going to reach its ugly pinnacle. That’s what happened with the Phillies closer on Sunday when the team lost its eighth straight with a 12-4 loss to the Tigers.
Per MLB.com:
Asked after the game if he wants to be traded, Papelbon said, "No, I would like to stay here. But if I'm going to have to put up with this year after year, then no, I don't want to be here. Why would you? Why would anybody?"
As playoff hopes begin to slowly dissipate in Philadelphia, Papelbon instead voiced the need for “a lot” of changes, like what the Red Sox did a couple seasons back.
I feel a little déja vu coming on. Papelbon was a part of that huge overhaul in Boston, which also saw Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez pack their bags. Now the Red Sox have the best record in the AL. Papelbon may get the change he asked for, but it may put him on the move once again.
