MLB

The Phillies Made A $60 Million Bet That Jonathan Papelbon Will Make This Face Again

by Glenn Davis | 3:33 pm, November 11th, 2011

Above, you see closer Jonathan Papelbon celebrating the Red Sox’ 2007 World Series title. If he does that next year, it’ll be in a different uniform: reports indicate that today, the Phillies and Papelbon reached an agreement on a four-year contract worth upwards of $50 million, pending a physical. The deal also has an option for a fifth year that would push its value to $60 million.

Papelbon’s had a lot of success – 219 career saves, WHIP of 1.018 – but he’ll be 31 next year, he performed pretty well 2011 but not as well the year before, and his name isn’t Mariano Rivera. It’s fair to wonder if the Phillies won’t be getting prime Papelbon – and also if such a large investment would be a good idea even if they were. He ever celebrates like that again, though, and it’s all worth it.

Getty photo, by Jonathan Daniel