BoSox Nation View From the Cheap Seats

With Jonathan Papelbon’s contract expiring and Daniel Bard becoming eligible for arbitration the Red Sox have some crucial decisions in front of the this off-season. Papelbon had a stellar season…until September rolled around. Daniel Bard as off the charts stuff with an easy 100mph fastball and unhittable slider but struggled after the All-Star break.

At the age of 30 Papelbon is no longer a young fireballer. Baseball rule of thumb says that when pitchers get older their arms slow down. So the logical move by the Red Sox is to trade Papelbon while he still has value and to turn the 9th inning over to the young gun with electric stuff. But I believe the Red Sox should be patient. I think that the Sox should resign Papelbon if he is willing to negotiate as well as Bard. Then I would wait until the trade deadline to decide the fate of the these two pitchers. If Bard regains his dominant form and Papelbon pitches well the Sox should deal Papelbon for his maximum value from a desperate team at the deadline. And if Bard continues to struggle the Sox should try and deal him to try and get something out of him before his stock completely plummets. 

It is going to be an interesting off-season for the Red Sox with all of the contracts expiring and key players eligible for arbitration. Hopefully the Sox avoid making any huge mistakes and try to make some key acquisitions to improve the starting rotation.