The Phillies traded closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Washington Nationals yesterday, ending the right-hander’s four-year stint in Philadelphia after signing a record four-year, $50 million contract in November, 2011. Though he’ll be remembered more for his antics and media sound bites, Papelbon more than lived up to expectations given the size of his contract, compiling a 2.31 ERA with 123 saves, 252 strikeouts, and 52 walks in 237 2/3 innings with the Phillies. He leaves as the franchise leader in saves, displacing Jose Mesa.
I was asked on Twitter to defend my assertion that Papelbon is a “likely future Hall of Famer”:
@Baer_Bill nice piece.