Papelbon: “I definitely didn’t come here for this”

Source: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America
Source: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America

The Philadelphia Phillies may be waiving the white flag on the 2013 season but that does not mean that management is ready to disband the team in any way.

Cliff Lee is not for trade and the Phillies are working to re-sign 34-year-old Chase Utley to a new contract.

With the Philies losing eight in a row following Sunday’s meltdown they have dropped to seven games under .500 for the season and losing is wearing thing on players such as Jonathan Papelbon.

“I definitely didn’t come here for this,” said Papelbon following Sunday’s game reports Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.

Papelbon was also not shy is telling reporters what he thought would fix the Phillies.

“It’s going to take, in my opinion, a lot. And in my opinion, I think it’s going to have to be something very similar to what The Red Sox went through a couple years ago. From top to bottom.”

Ironically Papelbon was one of several faces let go after the 2011 season which say the Red Sox enter September in first place in the AL East. Boston would sputter to a 7-20 record in the season’s final month and miss the playoffs.

Papelbon does not want his comments to be seen as a trade request.

“No, I would like to stay here. But if I’m going to have to put up with this year after year, then no, I don’t want to be here. Why would you? Why would anybody?”

Papelbon signed a four-year deal with the Phillies worth $50 million after he left Boston. This season the 32-year-old is 20-of-25 in save opportunities with a 2.21 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.

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