walking just eight in 2008.
AP
Electric closer Jonathan Papelbon has agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract with the Red Sox, SI.com has learned. The sum is a record for a first-year, arbitration-eligible reliever.
The 28-year-old fireballer went 5-4 with a 2.34 ERA and 41 saves last year, when he was paid $775,000. Boston's closer has racked up 113 saves with a 1.84 ERA in his first three seasons on the job, making three straight All-Star teams in the process.
The 28-year-old Papelbon is one of four pitchers to record 30 or more saves in each of his first three full seasons, joining Billy Koch, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Todd Worrell. He is 29 saves from the Red Sox mark of 132 set by Bob Stanley from 1977-89.
The Red Sox have locked up some key pieces over the last two months. Boston gave MVP second baseman Dustin Pedroia a six-year, $40.5 million contract in December and star slugger Kevin Youkilis a four-year, $41 million deal last week.
In other news, Mariners star starter Erik Bedard settled for a $7.75 million contract.
Several other arbitration-eligible players agreed on contracts today with their current clubs, just before arbitration figures were to be exchanged.
According to filings obtained by SI.com, other players to settle included Toronto's Jeremy Accardo ($900,000), Florida's Alfredo Amezaga ($1.3 million), Houston's Brandon Backe ($1.55 million), Colorado's Clint Barmes $1.625 million), Tampa Bay's Jason Bartlett ($1,981,250), San Diego's Heath Bell $1.255 million), Los Angeles Dodgers' Jonathan Broxton ($1.825 million), New York Mets' Ryan Church ($2.8 million), Pittsburgh's Zach Duke ($2.2 million), Texas' Frank Francisco ($1.615 million), Pittsburgh's John Grabow ($2.3 million), Colorado's Jason Grilli ($800,000), Detroit's Edwin Jackson ($2.2 million), Detroit's Gerald Laird ($2.8 million) and Colorado's Taylor Buchholz ($1.55 million).
Others to agree to contracts included Pittsburgh's Adam LaRoche ($7.05 million), Boston's Javier Lopez ($1.35 million), Los Angeles Dodgers' Russell Martin ($3.9 million), Milwaukee's Seth McClung ($1.6625 million), New York Yankees' Xavier Nady ($6.55 million), Kansas City's Joel Peralta ($640,000), Arizona's Chad Qualls $2.535 million), Los Angeles Angels' Robb Quinlan ($1.1 million), Florida's Ricky Nolasco ($2.4 million), Baltimore's Luke Scott ($2.4 million), Detroit's Bobby Seay ($1.3 million), San Francisco's Jack Taschner $835,000), St. Louis' Brad Thompson $650,000), Philadelphia's Shane Victorino ($3.125 million), Texas' C.J. Wilson ($1.85 million), Pittsburgh's Tyler Yates $1.3 million), Detroit's Joel Zumaya ($735,000).
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Comments (58) Add A Comment
Two more deals to go....get Bay signed long term and get a catcher.
Schadenfreude -…
Total Comments (28675)
Excellent news for Sox fans. Didn't Heyman say just a few days ago that Papelbon wanted to test the free agent market?
smellslikefish
Lacey, WA
Total Comments (13)
It's only a one year deal so it seems he still will be testing the market unless they come up with a large contract.
Edub1212
Mountville , PA
Total Comments (329)
are you serious,
"Excellent news for Sox fans. Didn't Heyman say just a few days ago that Papelbon wanted to test the free agent market? "
He wouldn't have been a free agent if he didn't sign this, this just takes care of this year, he is still under arbitration control for two more years, after this one.
littlesummy
Vancouver , WA
Total Comments (3)
He is going to test the free agent market, in 3 years when he is done with his arbitration years. This deal just avoids arbitration for this year.
littlesummy
Vancouver , WA
Total Comments (3)
best closer with the best stuff in baseball. the kid brings fire to the game....and v-tech is going to have a season like 2004!
bigrigsoxtober
Orem , UT
Total Comments (15)
best closer in baseball with the best stuff. he brings fire to the game. and v-tek will have a season like 2004
bigrigsoxtober
Orem , UT
Total Comments (15)
Yes, he did. I guess that is why his column falls under the "Rumors" section of the website!
I'm hoping Heyman's next column has me dating a supermodel...
Leehouse
Jacksonville , FL
Total Comments (182)
HE WILL TEST IT IN 3 YEARS WHEN ELIGIBLE, JUST IN TIME TO REPLACE RIVERA, HAHA YOU ALL KNOW ITS COMING
PHILBO
Georgia, VT
Total Comments (28)
Go Jason Bay...Spokane Loves you
bigrigsoxtober
Orem , UT
Total Comments (15)
HE WILL WHEN HES ELIGIBLE IN 3 YEARS JUST IN TIMT TO REPLACE M RIVERA YOU ALL KNWO ITS COMING
PHILBO
Georgia, VT
Total Comments (28)
PAPLEBON WILL BE IN PINSTRPES IN 3 YEARS MARK MY WORDS
PHILBO
Georgia, VT
Total Comments (28)
And it looks like he will since Papelbon only agreed to a one year contract. That's a clear indication that a player wants to test the FA market when he's only willing to accept 1 year contracts during his arbitration years.
Cherubim
Total Comments (1120)
how does this contradict what he said?
Zorrilla
Brighton , MA
Total Comments (1)
Who the hell paid Javier Lopez $1.4M? Hell, I could suck that bad for half of that!!!
da_dude
Total Comments (46)
Theo is going to have to offer Paps a 3-5 year deal at $10-12M per year to convince him to avoid testing the FA market... unless of course Papelbon's arm falls off this year.
Bottom Line Rob
East Weymouth , MA
Total Comments (2)
Yankee fans are so dumb. Every year, they spend hundreds of millions, every year they win "December baseball", every year they say someone's best player will be a Yankee in 2-3 years, and every year they win nothing.
When are you guys going to realize your team sucks and you won't win another title for at least 86 years?
Chuck Berry
Indianapolis , IN
Total Comments (21)
Papelbon is good yes, but get a little perspective. Right now, Papelbon is Eric Gagne circa 2004-2005. We all know how that turned out. Wait a few years before proclaiming him as the next Rivera.
Aimless Wonderer
Brooklyn , NY
Total Comments (4653)
Excellent move by the Sox in Papelbon for the one year. Give the Sox credit, they know how to run their business fairly for both the players and fans. Now if they can only do something that would allow their Captain catcher to return without a paycut for one year... Doing the right thing for him would be slightly overpaying him more than he will receive moving on.
Redsox Tradition
Total Comments (20)
Sure Yankees, you can have Pap in 3 years after we throw his arm off
Celtics Beat
Studio City , CA
Total Comments (190)
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