It is now being reported in a variety of sources that Jonathan Papelbon will return to the Red Sox role as closer. I completely disagree with this move because Papelbon has the potential to be an ace in the Clemens/Schilling/Ryan mode.  Pitchers like that are much harder to find and more valuable then closers. This is evident by the amount of money a top liner starter gets vs. a top line closer. I know some will make the Mariano Rivera comparison and how valuable he is, but Rivera only has 2 pitches and would not be an effective starter like Papelbon is able to be. I assume the Red Sox brass knows this. Thus, I think the move of Papelbon to closer is temporary and is being done in order for the Sox to lower the trade price for a closer such as Chad Cordero. If the Sox did not have any closer at all, then other teams could hold their feet to the fire in trade negotiations. At least this is why I hope they are making Papelbon a closer, because if they just plan to have him be a closer the rest of his career that would be a waste.
Here is the link to the ESPN story
on the situation: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2007/news/story?id=2808345
Here is Curt Schilling’s take:
http://38pitches.com/2007/03/22/paps-to-the-pen/