After months of lobbying, Jonathan Papelbon has muscled his way out of Philadelphia.
He was traded Tuesday to the Washington Nationals for Nick Pivetta, a 22-year-old right-hander in Double-A, according to sources. 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.
The addition of Papelbon undoubtedly strengthens the back end of the Nationals’ bullpen, though that too comes with some complications. That Nationals have a closer. His name is Drew Storen. He has 29 saves, a 1.73 ERA and a 4.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Papelbon, the more established of the two and a veteran of 18 postseason appearances (and a 1.00 ERA in them), apparently will be the regular closer, however. He has 17 saves, a 1.59 ERA and a 5.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Storen was the club’s regular closer in 2011, lost the job, was a setup man, then reclaimed the ninth inning this season. He’d blown but two saves leading to the Papelbon acquisition and is having his best big-league season. In six postseason appearances, Storen has an 8.44 ERA, which perhaps played into the Nationals’ decision to chase Papelbon.
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