Sox Avoid Arbitration, Sign Papelbon

This afternoon, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com broke the story that the Sox had avoided arbitration with Jonathan Papelbon by agreeing to a one-year $9.35 million deal. Keeping the streak alive, Theo Epstein has never gone to an arbitration hearing since taking over as GM of the Sox in 2002. For a while, it was looking like this was going to be the first, but the Sox were able to offer Papelbon a significant pay increase from his 2009 salary of $6.25 million, a deal that was struck  just minutes before the negotiation period was ending. There is no disputing Papelbon’s impressive numbers with the Sox in his 4 years as their closer and he is an almost invaluable piece of the Sox want to succeed in 2010. For now the second consecutive year, Papelbon has used his value and the Sox desire not go to an arbitration hearing to his advantage and brought in significant salary increases on both occasions. Regardless of how you feel about him holding out, it has certainly worked in his favor.

With all the rumblings about Papelbon’s future in Boston, Rob Bradford made an excellent point yesterday when speaking to the guys over at HotStove.com in relation to the closer wearing out his welcome in Boston. Bradford said that as long as Pap keeps on pitching well and closing out games with a high success rate, he will remain in Boston. Fans in this large market want results, and as long as Pap is still producing, there is no one else who can replace him, including Daniel Bard.

I have a feeling that Papelbon will be in the same spot next season waiting until the last second to sign with the Sox in order to get the maximum pay increase he feels he deserves. Now that the Sox have solidified the back end of the bullpen, the questions turn to the glaring weakness of the Sox in 2010: middle relief.