Advertisement

As important to Papelbon, it seems, he was traded away from the Phillies, who've not been competitive since the 2012 season, so from the moment Papelbon arrived via free agency. Four wasted summers sat poorly with Papelbon, who is 34 and, with a vesting option, under contract through 2016. He repeatedly said he'd not come to Philadelphia to lose, which is precisely what they'd done.