With the MLB trade deadline only being 15 days away, the Philadelphia Phillies will most likely be sellers as they sit currently in fifth place in the NL East. Last week, you had the likes of closer Jonathan Papelbon making known about being traded to a contender, which has caused some controversy in the media.
Papelbon actually might have a suitor. According to Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles, he says that a source told him that he expects the Los Angeles Dodgers to pursue the Phillies closer.
Spoke to a baseball source today who said he expects the #Dodgers to pursue Jonathan Papelbon
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) July 16, 2014
Jonathan Papelbon would most likely welcome a trade to the Dodgers as they are currently in a playoff race in the NL West. Now if Papelbon goes to the Dodgers, he might not be the closer rather the setup man. The Dodgers already have a closer in Kenley Jansen who has a 3.49 ERA with 27 saves and three blown saves. So he is not going to be removed anytime soon but their setup man Brian Wilson has not been so good.
Wilson has a 5.64 ERA in which you do not need from your setup man. Papelbon, if he goes to the Dodgers can give them a bridge to Jansen and he could also save a few games if Jansen is not available to pitch.
What also could make this work is that the Dodgers would have to take some of Papelbon’s remaining salary which would be no problem for Magic Johnson and company.
[Photo: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports]Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
