Why did the Red Sox make a pitch for Mo?

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Mariano Rivera's story about the fact that the Red Sox courted him, makes me wonder why? Does this mean that they are not happy with Papelbon?

In the previous seasons he appeared pretty untouchable to me, but during the last season he has blown a few opportunities.

Thoughts on this?

[Mr. Baseball]

If you can't beat em' join em. The only thing I can think of is that the Red Sox may have been approaching him only to keep him out of the Yankee pen. Realistically, we all know Rivera wouldn't sign with Boston. Rivera was more productive in 2010, but Pap is much younger and has a brighter future ahead of him. Any player that would leave a team he's spent his entire career with to go to their bitter rival would be looked down upon by the rest of Major League Baseball. So why the Red Sox approached him, I have no idea.

[RickD]

Seriously I would not care who my closer is, if Mo is available it's a no-brainer!

[Mr. Baseball]

Seriously I would not care who my closer is, if Mo is available it's a no-brainer!

I beg to differ. I'd take a young closer over Rivera anyday. It's safe to say Mo's best years are behind him, it's all going to be downhill from here on out.

[RickD]

Man it's Mo! I would take him for 1 year if I could only get him for that long!

[CoreyR]

I agree Rick. At this point, it would of totally been cool to see him close for the Dodgers for only 1 year. Reason why it'd be really cool is because....

1.) He is easily the greatest closer in baseball history. (Yes, I know who Trevor Hoffman is)
2.) He'd be the closer for Don Mattingly's new ballclub.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

I agree Rick. At this point, it would of totally been cool to see him close for the Dodgers for only 1 year. Reason why it'd be really cool is because....

1.) He is easily the greatest closer in baseball history. (Yes, I know who Trevor Hoffman is)
2.) He'd be the closer for Don Mattingly's new ballclub.

Trevor Hoffman? He has had some save opportunities during play off games but he blew them mightily. This all time saves record of him doesn't mean a thing to me. If he had never had the chance to pitch during the play offs I would have given him the benefit of the doubt. But it seems to me that he isn't capable to keep that level in really big games, so IMO he isn't the best closer in baseball. No I am not biased because we are talking about Mo here.

[CoreyR]

I agree Rick. At this point, it would of totally been cool to see him close for the Dodgers for only 1 year. Reason why it'd be really cool is because....

1.) He is easily the greatest closer in baseball history. (Yes, I know who Trevor Hoffman is)
2.) He'd be the closer for Don Mattingly's new ballclub.

I agree with you YBF, as you can see with my quote. I didn't want to get bashed for not even mentioning Trevor Hoffman. So, I at least added him in parenthesis.

[JoshRedcay]

I'm just as clueless as you, Papelbon has been exceptional the past few seasons, no reason for them to go after Mo and end up spending even more money. That wouldn't make any sense, unless they wanted to use one as a set-up man, but that would be paying way too much for a set-up man.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

I'm just as clueless as you, Papelbon has been exceptional the past few seasons, no reason for them to go after Mo and end up spending even more money. That wouldn't make any sense, unless they wanted to use one as a set-up man, but that would be paying way too much for a set-up man.

I have read rumours that the Red Sox aren't very happy with Papelbon and that he surely will sign with a different team after his contract expires.

[Mickey Mental]

Daniel Bard is the Sox closer of the future.