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Source: Jonathan Papelbon headed to Phillies (as long as he passes his physical) 11.11.11 at 3:22 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Jonathan Papelbon

According to a major league source, free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon has agreed to a four-year deal worth $50 million with a vesting option that could advance the contract to upwards of $60 million. CSNPhilly’s Jim Salisbury was first to report the agreement.

The deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled to take place at some point next eweek.

The move comes after reports earlier in the week that Ryan Madson had agreed to a four-year deal worth $44 million, with a $13 million vesting option, to remain in Philadelphia, pending approval of team president David Montgomery. But in recent days that report had been debunked by the Phillies, keeping the door open for Papelbon to join Philadelphia.

The four-year deal for Papelbon marks the first such contract of that length for a closer since Joe Nathan and Francisco Cordero signed deals for four years prior to the 2008 season. (See Alex Speier’s column on closers’ contracts by clicking here.) The most money ever allocated to a closer prior to the reported Papelbon deal was $47 million, given to Nathan (4 years) and B.J. Ryan (5 years). The highest annual average given to a closer was the $15 million per season the Yankees allocated to Mariano Rivera on two separate occasions.

After the season, Papelbon talked to WEEI.com about his priority when signing with a team in the offseason:

“It really truly isn’t all about the money. It’s just not,” he said from his Mississippi home. “I’m going to a place where I know I’m going to succeed. I’m going to a place where I know I have a chance to win a championship. I’m going to a place where I know that my family is going to be safe, my family is going to like the environment, and everything else that goes along with off-field stuff. That’s what I’m looking at.

“If it was all about the money I would have said starting six years ago. If it was all about the money, I would have stayed starting, gone out, pitched my six innings, got a quality start and called it a day. For me it’s more about going to a place I can thrive, have fun and enjoy what I’m doing, and win. That’s it really.”

(For the complete Oct. 11 story of Papelbon talking about free agency, click here.)

Check back for more updates ….

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  • Evan

    Kevin4709 is an idiot.  The top 5 is exactly how it should be

  • Tim W

    Gronk ahead of Welker not even close

  • Bhdyer20

    There is no way anybody but Brady is #1 on this list.  Sorry but the guy threw for 5000 yards.

  • bruinman86

    I have to agree.  1-5 is spot on.  Which is unusual for this type of list.  I almost never agree with these types of lists.

  • Dano S

    The only players I would rate higher is Solder,Light,Edelman,Waters and Ninkovich.I would keep draft picks a very deep draft.2.0 Mock Draft 1)Devon Still DL Penn State 1)Melvin Ingram DL S Carolina
    2)Juror Criner WR Arizona 2)Nick Toon WR Wisconsin 3)Sean Spence OLB Miami 4)Lavonte David OLB Nebraska.This would greatly strengthen DL,WR and defensive team speed.

  • Anonymous

    this was a very enjoyable piece of writing.

    my picks are: Barron or Gilmore, Konz, J Adams or Randle. 

    At defensive end, I have know idea :) ”  Surprize me BB

  • Grayesun

    so the league’s new leg-breaking assassin Raven’s Bernard Pollard has been “involved” in taking out the #1, #2 and #3 Patriots over the last few years…next season, he’ll be lining up as a kamikaze running back gunning for Wilfork’s ankles… 

  • Anonymous

    I really think that Deion Branch is getting way to much credit, a great reciever in the past but there were many games that he was a non factor and I believe it is time we upgrade the recievers, we need someone that can stretch the field just so it will be easier for the rest to work underneath and in the middle of the field , we also need to see what Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen can provide as Brady is much better when he can run play action, Brian Waters has to come back our BEST Off lineman by far ! BUT we really need to get more help on Defense, I’d love to see Andre Carter come back and we should be looking for a stud pass rusher either from the line or off the corner , and it is a PRIORITY ! We need a DB that can cover the bigger recievers and the deep recievers!
    when you get a chance check out http://www.atomictickets.com I basically liked the list I think Light and Mankins should have been lower , Gostkowski & Love higher and it will be interesting to see waht happens with “Chad “

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  • Anonymous

    The Pats were about a foot away from winning the super bowl against the Giants (essentially without Gronk).  What do you think the score would have been if Hoyer was the QB?  Maybe 30-3?  Brady is #1 no question.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t watch college football, so I don’t know the players, but I’d think the Pats should go for the following positions in the first 2 rounds (4 picks):

    DB (for the future, they typically take longer to progress)
    WR (same as above)
    OLB (pass rush)
    DE (pass rush)

    From the Free Agent standpoint, the Pats should get a solid CB and/or Safety because as we saw with McCourty’s struggles this year, you can’t exactly rely on newbs in the secondary (its a passing league).  Keep Branch/Welker as the WRs, but get a solid prototype WR for the future

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