ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting, according to sources, that Boston Red Sox closer and free agent Jonathan Papelbon has inked a four-year, $50 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The source reported that there is a vesting option that could push the value up to $60 million. If the deal goes down as reported, it would be the largest total contract package ever signed by a closer. The $12.5 million annual contact would put Papelbon behind only New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera‘s $15 million.
The Phillies wasted no time in rebounding from a collapsed deal with Ryan Madson (Scott Boras is his agent — enough said) this week by jumping into the fray for Papelbon. So, one can only wonder: Will Madson be a target for the Red Sox? Stay tuned.
