After signing reliever Rafael Soriano to a minor-league contract it was reported the Chicago Cubs were still looking for relief help in a trade. Since then, they've been talking to the Philadelphia Phillies about their closer.
Jonathan Papelbon has been on the trading block for a long time, but the Phillies have been unable to reach a deal with interested clubs because his $13 million salary for 2015 and $13 million vesting option for 2016 (which kicks in if he finishes 48 games this year) is viewed as too big of a commitment.
However, a number of clubs are in need of help in the back end of their bullpen and Papelbon has been one of the best closers in the MLB throughout his career. Additionally, the Phillies appear to be making it a bit easier for him to be acquired in a trade.
"The Phils have engaged in recent trade discussions with both Blue Jays and Cubs about Papelbon, according to major-league sources. No deal with either club appears close; the talks are at an 'impasse,' one source said," according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
"The trade talks hinge on a sliding scale. The Phillies are willing to pay a large percentage of Papelbon's remaining money to land better prospects. The Jays and Cubs want to pay as little as possible in both dollars and players."
Toronto is no surprise here. They had discussions with the Phillies about Papelbon in the offseason, but their tight payroll situation was holding them back from getting a deal done. The Brewers also called Philadelphia, but the two sides couldn't agree on player compensation to complete the trade.
Rumors have previously suggested the Cubs were interested in acquiring Papelbon, but this has perhaps been the most revealing development in the whole situation. Cubs' manager Joe Maddon opted to go with a closer-by-committee system over the weekend against the Washington Nationals and three separate relievers notched saves during the series. Then they signed Soriano for further relief, but Rosenthal exposed their reasoning behind doing so.
"The Cubs, in fact, signed Soriano in part because they did not want to get left without either him or Papelbon. The team, trying to build as many late-inning options as possible, no longer is locked into Hector Rondon as its closer."
However, they might be facing an obstacle in acquiring Papelbon.
"The sense among some in the industry, though, is that the Phillies would prefer to deal with the Blue Jays - perhaps because the Jays would offer better terms, perhaps because the Phillies want Papelbon out of the National League."
Chicago has plenty they can offer Philadelphia in such a deal. If they provide them with more than the Blue Jays can then it's likely the Phillies will go with the best that they can get.
