Although the trade market for Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon has been significantly limited this offseason, the team is now in talks with a potential suitor. As for free agents, starter James Shields says he wants to pitch on the West Coast.
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the Milwaukee Brewers are in "serious dicussions" with Philadelphia to acquire Papelbon. ESPN reported earlier today that the Brewers are on the right-hander's no-trade list, but it's "not believed to be an obstacle to a deal." The Phillies have been open to trading Papelbon because he's owed $13 million in 2015 and has a $13 million vesting option for 2016 amidst the team's rebuilding period.
The Brewers had Francisco Rodriguez as their closer in 2014 and he became a free agent at the end of season. The right-hander was 5-5 with a 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 44 saves and 73 strikeouts in 69 games (68 innings). The demand for him has been relatively quiet as well, with only the Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays expressing any interest. Despite Rodriguez's solid campaign, Papelbon's numbers were even better last season, during which he was 2-3 with a 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 39 saves in 66 games (66 1/3 innings).
Papelbon has been one of the best closers in baseball throughout his career and owns a record of 35-29 with a 2.37 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 325 saves in 593 games. His option for 2016 will vest if he finishes 48 games in 2015.
According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, the "last remaining obstacle to trade sending Papelbon to Brewers is working out how much money the Phillies would pay if Papelbon's option vests."
Speaking of undefined and sluggish markets, that of James Shields is similar to Papelbon's and Rodriguez's. The 33-year-old right-hander has yet to sign with a team as February approaches, despite an excellent 2014 season (14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 34 starts). His market may now be even further limited because FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal writes the veteran wants to pitch on the West Coast since he lives in San Diego.
This limits his options to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. We can pretty much cross off every team with the exception of the Padres, who recently said they were "on the periphery" of the Shields sweepstakes. The other clubs have either made it known they were flat out not pursuing Shields or any other big ticket free agents.
Otherwise, it's unknown who's chasing the former Kansas City Royal and Tampa Bay Ray. It was made known he's pursuing a five-year, $125 million contract, but teams are more inclined to give him four years in the $80 million range because of his odometer (1,910 innings pitched in nine MLB seasons) and his age.
