The Red Sox offered Jonathan Papelbon the security of a long-term contract several times in recent years. Several teammates embraced similar offers, but Papelbon preferred to gamble.
He went season to season, methodically making his way to free agency, knowing that poor performance or injury could cost him millions of dollars.
It paid off in the end for Papelbon, who yesterday agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Phillies on the richest contract for a relief pitcher in baseball history.
According to major league sources, Papelbon has a four-year deal worth $50 million with a vesting option for 2016 that would take the contract to more than $60 million. The contract is contingent on a physical that is scheduled for next week.
Even without the option, it’s a record package for a reliever. The average annual value of $12.5 million would be second only to Mariano Rivera, whom the Yankees have paid $15 million a year since 2008.
The Red Sox, general manager Ben Cherington said, never made an offer. His conversations with agents Sam and Seth Levinson were such that it was obvious no deal could be made.
“It’s been clear, where we see it and what we’d be willing to do at this point in the offseason given what our other needs are and what we feel the alternatives are, is not something that matched up with what Pap was looking for,’’ Cherington said. “Because of that, we never made a formal offer.’’
It was the latest departure for the rapidly changing Red Sox, who have seen manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein leave the organization in the last six weeks. David Ortiz, Jason Varitek, and Tim Wakefield also are free agents.
The Red Sox didn’t even get a telephone call saying Papelbon had left the team. Not that Cherington expected one.
“We certainly wanted to leave the door open if we got deeper into the offseason and circumstances changed for either side. Perhaps there was something that could have been worked out,’’ Cherington said. “But at this point in the offseason, this early, there wasn’t enough common ground. So we didn’t make an offer, and because of that it wouldn’t be fair to expect them to come back to us.’’
Cherington’s reticence to pay Papelbon was grounded in knowing that other closers would be available at cheaper rates.
The Red Sox have been grooming Daniel Bard for several years. He has only five career saves, but has pitched well as Papelbon’s setup man.
