No Arbitration!
Hot off the Front Office email…We just agreed to terms with Papelbon and Javier Lopez.
RED SOX AGREE TO TERMS WITH RIGHTHANDED PITCHER JONATHAN PAPELBON
AND LEFTHANDED PITCHER JAVIER LOPEZ
BOSTON, MA–The Boston Red Sox today agreed to terms with rigthhanded pitcher Jonathan Papelbon and lefthanded pitcher Javier Lopez on one-year, non-guaranteed contracts through the 2009 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration with both players. Terms were not disclosed.
The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.
Papelbon went 5-4 with a 2.34 ERA in 2008 and set career highs 67 appearances, 69.1 innings and 41 saves, the third-most in the American League. He also ranked among A.L. relief leaders in games finished (2nd, 62), fewest walks per 9.0 innings (2nd, 1.04), save percentage (4th, 89.1), opponents on-base percentage (5th, .245), and strikeouts (T6th, 77).
The 28-year-old is one of four pitchers ever to record 30 or more saves in at least each of his first three full big league seasons, joining Billy Koch (4), Kazuhiro Sasaki (3) and Todd Worrell (3). He trails Bob Stanley (132) for second in Red Sox history with 113 career saves, the third-highest total in the majors from 2006-08.
Papelbon is 13-10 in 202 games/three starts over 230.0 career innings. His 1.84 ERA is the second-lowest in major league history since 1900 among pitchers with at least 200.0 innings behind Ed Walsh (1.82). Boston’s fourth round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft is 2-0 with seven saves in 16 career playoff games and has thrown a post-season record 25.0 innings without allowing a run.
In 2008, Lopez tossed a career-high 59.1 innings on his way to a 2-0 record and finished fourth in the A.L. among qualifying lefthanded relievers with a 2.43 ERA and tied for fourth with 70 appearances. The 31-year-old limited lefthanded hitters to a .182 batting average, fifth in the A.L. He recorded a 1.98 ERA in his last 58 outings beginning April 25 and closed out the year with a season-high 12.0 consecutive scoreless frames over his final 15 games.
Lopez has spent each of the last three seasons in the Red Sox organization after joining the club through a trade with the Chicago White Sox on June 15, 2006. His 2.70 career ERA as a reliever with Boston ranks third in club history among pitchers with at least 150 appearances out of the bullpen, trailing only Papelbon (1.81) and Dick Radatz (2.66). The six-year major league veteran is 11-5 with 4 saves and a 4.38 ERA in 329 games with Colorado (2003-05), Arizona (2005) and Boston (2006-08).
Red Sox Insider Blog 
Excellent. This is good news. š
Now, just looking for some more good news on the Captain. š
Back in the offices yet, Voice?
Swedish Fish back in full force..? š
back in the office! Did you miss me?? A new e-newsletter should be hitting your email inboxes this week (tomorrow I think).
YES! 2 down – now can we JUST get Varitek signed!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
Why aren’t we locking up Papelbon for mutiple years????
Glad to see Boy Wonder will be with us again for 2009. A shame we couldn’t coax him to stay for longer contractually. I have my mittens & earmuffs ready to go to come down to Fenway and buy tickets on Saturday-hopefully they will lock-up the Captain by then.
Thank you for this–how come he doesn’t get more years? Am I missing something? We do agree he is our closer and a reall good one, don’t we.
As a fan I would like to see him get more. However I realize it is not my checkbook.
Please now let’s sign Varitek!!!!!!!!!!!
The Teacher
Just based on reports of the Sox not returning Scott Boras’ calls, it seems they’re waiting for ‘Tek to fire him…If Boras is the barrier and he’s a professional, he’ll step aside himself…but who knows.
Obviously, “Voice” can’t say anything or he/she would have by now…But I’m getting concerned it’s not going to work out, and we need ‘Tek in ’09–no question.
I have a question for you insider,and for all RSN……. Have you ever seen such an outpouring of concern,hope,loyalty and devotion to a Red Sox player not currently signed ? Has there ever been such a loud cry of respect and demand for a player to become one with us again ? I know many were hurt when Manny was gone, when Lowe and Martinez and Schilling left our midst……..but this is an earth-shattering
shout from Red Sox Nation, for the office to hear us say that WE WANT JASON VARITEK BACK ! ! !
I cannot recall any other player causing such an outcry of pure Red Sox Love. There is only one reasonable way for this to end properly and without further hysterics….sign the man to a 2 or 3 year deal. He is great, he is strong, he wants us as much as we want him…..Lets Go !!
What she said. š
Well, this is sounding promising…
Sox add second year to offer?
It’s so close I can taste it…
Honestly, if they can just get this two year deal wrapped up with Varitek — assuming 2 years is accurate — I’ll feel fantastic about every aspect of the team for ’09. Every move of this off season, including not signing Teixeira, has been good. But it’s only when they get this last critical piece finally in place, I’ll be able to enjoy the rest of it properly!
The deadline given to ‘Tek makes a lot of sense…Allowing it to be come public does not, though (for either side). So too bad that got out…
Anyway, I guess this will all be decided soon…And here’s hoping ‘Tek has a different agent next year! š