Report: Phillies would eat salary for right Papelbon trade
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Owed $39 million over the next three seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly shopping closer Jonathan Papelbon, and, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, they are willing to eat part of his salary, if it means improving the team.
“We’ve done it before,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “If it makes us better.”
His 29 saves last season was the five-time All-Star's lowest output since becoming a closer eight seasons ago. The Phillies believe they can find the same production at a much cheaper cost - even if it means paying Papelbon to play for another team.
The Phillies contributed $22 million to Jim Thome's salary after trading him to the south-side of Chicago after the 2005 season.