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Papelbon Signs One-Year Deal, Becomes Defender of Sport

Written by Chris Roberts on March 6th, 2008 | 0 Comments

As a Red Sox fan, I have a full on man crush on Jonathan Papelbon. That said, I have absolutely no problem with Theo Epstein throwing more money his way — Papelbon signed a new deal worth $775,000 and keeping him with the Sox for a year.

Now, this deal is great on its own because we get to hold onto the next great closer. Overall, this deal is even better because it brings the entire Red Sox roster under contract.

Beyond that, the new contract makes Jonathan Papelbon a defender of humanity, baseball, and sport.

No, really.

Said Jonathan, via ESPN:

“I feel a certain obligation not only to myself and my family to make the money that I deserve but for the game of baseball,” he said Tuesday. “Mariano Rivera has been doing it for the past 10 years and with me coming up behind him I feel a certain obligation to do the same.”

Like I said, I love him, but what the hell is he talking about? He’s up for arbitration next year, leading to even more money, natch, but what good is he doing for baseball?

Mind you, I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve the raise, and I’d have no problem with him saying, I play well, and I just want more money.

So why the Oliver Cromwell play?

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