Did the Phillies miss the boat on trading Jonathan Papelbon?
Maybe so, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Stark reports that the Dodgers, Cubs and Blue Jays — the three teams that made the most sense for Papelbon based on their standing and need for bullpen help — are no longer "actively" pursuing the Phils' closer.
The reasoning Stark lays out is the Dodgers' prioritization of starting pitching, the Cubs' recent call-up of Rafael Soriano, and the Blue Jays' plan to make returning Aaron Sanchez the closer.
Of course, this could all be posturing. These teams undoubtedly saw and heard Papelbon spout off yet again during the All-Star break and could be feeling like if they downplay any interest, the Phils could get desperate ahead of the July 31 deadline. Just imagine how awful the atmosphere in the Phillies' clubhouse could be if Papelbon doesn't get his wish. Other teams are imagining that, too, which is why you can't just dismiss the effect the "You-know-what or get off the pot" remark had on Papelbon's trade value.
According to Stark, the Phillies were so close to trading Papelbon last month that they were asking for final offers from teams. The new front-office dynamic seems to have scuttled those talks.
Papelbon has a 1.72 ERA this season with 16 saves in as many chances.