OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 10-30-2009, 10:29 AM

Cubs close deal with Papelbon
Closer leaves Tropicana Field for Wrigleyville
March 4, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will have to move on without closer Jonathan Papelbon after all.

Papelbon signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs today that will pay him $16.81 million. It is roughly a half-million dollars more than what the Devil Rays had offered the 30-year-old right-hander who just last week said he expected to be joining his Tampa Bay teammates for the 2011 season.

Papelbon went 4-4 with 27 saves and a 2.34 ERA in 51 games last season, holding opponents to a .204 average and posting a 0.88 WHIP. In 2009, he saved 39 games with a 2.74 ERA. In his career, Papelbon is 27-17 with 129 saves and a 2.32 ERA in 350 appearances, all out of the bullpen.

In Chicago, he will be reunited with former Devil Rays teammate Ryan Howard, who signed with the Cubs as a free agent prior to last season after winning the MVP with Tampa Bay in 2009. Howard hit .311 with 51 home runs and 135 RBI with the Cubs last year.

With Papelbon gone, the Devil Rays are now forced to decide on a new closer. While the team has discussed the possibility throughout the winter, no decision has been made and manager Christian O'Neal has suggested the job will be up for grabs throughout the spring training exhibition season.

Manny Delcarmen appears to be the leading candidate, though left-handers Craig Breslow and David Price are strong options as well. Delcarmen has 13 saves in his career, never picking up more than six in a season. In 2010, the right-hander went 6-1 with three saves and a 2.09 ERA in 54 games. Breslow has six saves in his four-year career, though he recorded none last season. The southpaw went 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 49 appearances in 2010. Price saved two games last year in his first full season at the big league level, going 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 78 1/3 innings of work.

10-30-2009, 10:29 AM	#670 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Cubs close deal with Papelbon Closer leaves Tropicana Field for Wrigleyville March 4, 2011 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will have to move on without closer Jonathan Papelbon after all. Papelbon signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs today that will pay him $16.81 million. It is roughly a half-million dollars more than what the Devil Rays had offered the 30-year-old right-hander who just last week said he expected to be joining his Tampa Bay teammates for the 2011 season. Papelbon went 4-4 with 27 saves and a 2.34 ERA in 51 games last season, holding opponents to a .204 average and posting a 0.88 WHIP. In 2009, he saved 39 games with a 2.74 ERA. In his career, Papelbon is 27-17 with 129 saves and a 2.32 ERA in 350 appearances, all out of the bullpen. In Chicago, he will be reunited with former Devil Rays teammate Ryan Howard, who signed with the Cubs as a free agent prior to last season after winning the MVP with Tampa Bay in 2009. Howard hit .311 with 51 home runs and 135 RBI with the Cubs last year. With Papelbon gone, the Devil Rays are now forced to decide on a new closer. While the team has discussed the possibility throughout the winter, no decision has been made and manager Christian O'Neal has suggested the job will be up for grabs throughout the spring training exhibition season. Manny Delcarmen appears to be the leading candidate, though left-handers Craig Breslow and David Price are strong options as well. Delcarmen has 13 saves in his career, never picking up more than six in a season. In 2010, the right-hander went 6-1 with three saves and a 2.09 ERA in 54 games. Breslow has six saves in his four-year career, though he recorded none last season. The southpaw went 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 49 appearances in 2010. Price saved two games last year in his first full season at the big league level, going 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 78 1/3 innings of work.