Jonathan Papelbon to Join Philadelphia Phillies Already-Awesome Pitching Staff

As if the Philadelphia Phillies didn't already have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball, they added Jonathan Papelbon to the mix Friday afternoon.

The two sides came to an agreement with the former Boston Red Sox closer reportedly worth somewhere in the ballpark of $50 million over the next four seasons. Since he was a Type A free agent, the Boston Red Sox will receive a first-round pick from the Phillies as compensation. Considering the vesting option which the contract apparently includes, Papelbon could make more than $60 million, which would be the biggest package deal ever signed by a reliever. Bigger than the $47 million, five-year contract the Toronto Blue Jays handed B.J. Ryan in 2005, this agreement even eclipses Mariano Rivera's $15 million a season, currently ranking as the no. 1 all time ridiculous amount of money given to a closer.

Papelboner, who will turn 31 later this month, holds the record for Red Sox saves with 217 over just seven seasons. Although the team never did offer to re-sign him this season, he shot down long-term extension suggestions from Boston in the past, in hopes of a more lucrative free agent deal, which was a pretty good move if a guy has zero commitment to his team:

"I want to see what's out there for myself. This is my job, it's professional baseball, man. You try and get the best deal you can. At the end of the year, it'll be a business decision."

While the majority of his memories in Beantown will be pleasant ones -- a World Series title in 2007 and four All-Star appearances -- his last time out with the club was Game 162 in Baltimore where he blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning, allowing the Orioles to walk off with the win and polish off the greatest single-season collapse of all time. Ah, memories.

[Boston Herald]