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Houston Astros Rumors: Phillies’ Papelbon begging for a trade

By Eric Huysman |
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Jun 21, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) follows through on pitch during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Cardinals, 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, a post was released late by the Houston Chronicle beat writer Evan Drellich about Jonathan Papelbon would be open to coming to the ‘Dirty South.’ A quote from Drellich’s post states Papelbon’s true desire. “I’d go to Toronto, West Coast, East Coast, Dirty South,” Papelbon said. “I’ll go anywhere.” All Jonathan Papelbon wants to do is get out of Philadelphia soon. There have been no reports of the Houston Astros being linked to Papelbon. However, it’s a good time to ask would the Astros take on a character like Papelbon with the history of an outspoken Billy Wagner as a closer?

“I’d go to Toronto, West Coast, East Coast, Dirty South,” Papelbon said. “I’ll go anywhere,”-Via Evan Drellich.

It’s not really an insult, to say dirty south, here is the definition from the Urban Dictionary: “The following states: Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina. Made popular some 10 years ago.”

The Astros have one of the stronger bullpens this year, but the relievers have been a little shaky recently during the team’s recent cold stretch. Let’s take a look at the Astros bullpen stats and see if they really need Papelbon on the team.

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2015 Astros bullpen stats via ESPN: 17-15 record/ 2.67 ERA/ 24 saves/ 258 strikeouts in 262 2/3 innings.

One of the weakest issues with the bullpen recently has walked too many batters. The Astros have 81 walks all season, but in the last ten games, they have walked 14 batters. 17% of the walks allowed by relievers all season has happened in the past 10 games. The five games before the break, they settled down on their walks averaging about one walk per game, but the bullpen has to stop allowing extra runners to reach base. While the bullpen has been the Astros strength for most of the year when Chad Qualls does not pitch, adding another All-Star arm wouldn’t hurt.

Papelbon’s 2015 stats from Baseball-Reference: 1-1/ 1.60 ERA/ 14 SV/ 35 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings.

Next: Would Jonathan Papelbon make sense?

Would Jonathan Papelbon make sense?

Jul 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) and catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) react after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Phillies defeated the Braves 4-0 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Many Astros fans want to trade for Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman from the Reds in a package deal, but that would cost 4-5 top prospects for the Astros. However, the Phillies may be tiring of Papelbon’s constant nagging and might be willing to trade for less. Other teams will try to bid on him as well, but the Astros should have the talent to trade for any pitcher. Papelbon appears to be willing to play for anyone willing to trade what it takes to get him out of that mess called the Phillies.

Looking at Papelbon’s stats above, they are similar to what Will Harris offers the Astros in the closers role. I have nothing against Luke Gregerson, he has been one of the driving pieces in the bullpen in 2015 and could retain the closer’s role even with Papelbon on the team. Even if Papelbon took over the closer’s role because his drive and fire demand it, it pushes all the other members of the bullpen into different roles. This will make the bullpen better as a whole.

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Would we want such a character as Papelbon on our team? He wants to win and he could bring fire to the Astros bullpen who’s current leader is Chad Qualls despite not being the closer. The pitchers in the bullpen seem to be a quiet bunch, who could use some of the fire and intensity that Papelbon could offer.

Too soon to speculate on what it would take, but I think Michael Feliz and mid-ranked top-30 hitting prospect would do. Would Ruben Amaro take Jon Singleton back straight up? If the Astros want to trade for Papelbon, he would be willing to play for the Astros as long as they are winning. You have heard of fair-weather fans, Papelbon is a fair-weather baseball player. He could make a difference in the Astros bullpen, but do the Astros need to focus on trading for offense instead. I will tackle that next post.

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