Thursday, April 9, 2015

Is Papelbon Fishing For A Return To Red Sox?

In case you had any uncertainty about Jonathan Papelbon's feelings about The City of Brotherly Love, he's just cleared it up for you. Said the former Boston closer, "The Red Sox are a part of who I am, man. I don’t really feel much like a Phillie. Boston’s where I was born and raised. It’s kind of like that, you know. It’s the city you were born and raised in." I can vividly recall being at Spring Training in 2005, when Papelbon and Jon Lester were being featured as power arms of the future. How things have changed since then! Papelbon's four years in Philly have been anything but smooth—despite his generally excellent performance on the field. Trade rumors have swirled and it's looking more and more like his days are numbered at Citizens Bank Park. So, a return to Fenway? While it sure would be exciting, it doesn't look like it's in the cards.