Jonathan Papelbon Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Star

Jonathan Papelbon is being shopped by the Philadelphia Phillies, with the Blue Jays reportedly interested. 

Continue for updates. 

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Papelbon Comments on Potential Blue Jays Trade  

Thursday, Feb. 26

With the Brewers no longer needing a closer with today's signing of Francisco Rodriguez, a potential Papelbon trade partner has gone out the window. However, the Blue Jays remain an option, and Papelbon commented on the prospects of a trade to Toronto, via Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com:

"

Yes, Toronto, interests me -- if it interests Ruben (Phillies GM Amaro). I know some of the guys on their coaching staff. They’re a good team. If Ruben can do a deal with them, I’d be interested.

(...)

I want to right the ship here more than I want to leave. I’ll get more satisfaction turning this thing around and winning here than going somewhere else.

If we play the baseball we’re capable of playing, any deal involving me with Toronto or whoever will slowly go out the window.

My storybook ending here is sneaking into the wild card and getting hot in the playoffs with these Phillies.

"

On Feb. 4, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports initially reported that the Blue Jays were interested in trading for the closer. 

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Brewers-Phillies Can't Agree on Papelbon Compensation, Blue Jays Interested  

Wednesday, Feb. 4

The Brewers are still attempting to acquire Jonathan Papelbon, but there appears to be a disagreement in compensation heading back to the Phillies, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  

On Feb. 2, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reported that talks between the Brewers and Phillies were ongoing, and that discussions were with "not just one club." 

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Multiple Teams Interested in Papelbon  

Tuesday, Jan. 27

As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to offload some of their veteran assets, closer Jonathan Papelbon continues to find himself at the center of trade speculation.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com has more on two teams continuing to show interest:

"

The Phillies are still talking to the [Milwaukee] Brewers and [Toronto] Blue Jays about a Jonathan Papelbon trade.

Two sources said this evening that talks are alive, although the seriousness of those discussions is unclear. Yahoo! Sports first reported Friday that the Phillies and Brewers were in serious negotiations. FOXSports.com mentioned the Blue Jays’ interest.

In the following days, reports surfaced that a deal with either team is unlikely. But that has not stopped them from continuing to talk about Papelbon.

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Indeed, this comes just a few days after Milwaukee's general manager, Doug Melvin, basically dismissed the likelihood of a deal happening.

“It doesn’t appear there’s any momentum to it right now,” he told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “It could be revived later, I guess, but right now there’s nothing happening. Whatever traction there was seems to have dissipated.”

Toronto's interest appears to be fairly tepid as well, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

Haudricourt adds:

Papelbon finished 2-3 this past season with 39 saves, a 2.04 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched. Phillies fans have grown weary of his act, however, as he appeared to make an obscene gesture toward Phillies fans as he was coming out of a game in September and has never shied away from commenting publicly when he's been unhappy with the team's lack of success.

But trading him has been made more complicated by his contract. He's scheduled to make $13 million this season and has a vesting option in 2016 for the same amount of money, which becomes guaranteed if he finishes 48 games this season, per Zolecki. 

That's a big contract for a 34-year-old closer who has run hot and cold in his time with the Phillies. 

Still, it wouldn't be surprising if a team found a way to bring Papelbon aboard, with Philly eating some of the contract. For a rebuilding Phillies team, Papelbon is more useful if he can bring back prospects. For a team looking to contend, Papelbon is a proven closer who was pretty solid in 2014.