And he said that once the free agent process got started, Philadelphia quickly became his first choice.
“This happened pretty quick,’’ said the 31-year-old Papelbon, who fittingly entered the room at 4:58 p.m., removing his blue suit jacket to don his new red-pinstriped No. 58 jersey. “Quicker than I expected.
“I’m the type of guy who’s loyal to those who are loyal to me. These guys showed they wanted me. I didn’t want to sit and debate whether I should go back to Boston or come to Philly.
“I wanted to make this decision quick and get it over with. I knew these guys wanted me. There was no hesitation.’’
While Papelbon insisted there was no lingering animosity toward the Sox, the fact remains for whatever reason Boston never tried to lock him into a long-term deal. Apparently, amid the front office upheaval following the Sox’ September swoon, he and his agents got the distinct impression that wasn’t about to change.
“We’re thrilled that he’s been able to find a home that meets all his professional needs,’’ said one of his three agents, Seth Levinson, who was able to negotiate a fifth-year vesting option in the deal. “He thrives on the energy of the crowd and elevates his game when the competition is at its greatest.’’
Of course, virtually the same could be said of pitching in Boston, where Papelbon emerged as a force out of the bullpen, after arriving midway through the 2005 season. He departed with 219 saves with a 2.33 ERA, admitting it’s been quite a ride.
“Anytime a player leaves an organization he’s been with for a long time, he’s going to take lasting memories and lasting friendships with him,’’ said Papelbon, whose acquisition will force lefthanded reliever Antonio Bastardo to find a new number. “My best friends in baseball are [Dustin] Pedroia and David Ortiz and [Tim] Wakefield and [Jason] Varitek.
“We learned how to play big league baseball together. I’m obviously going to miss those guys and grinding out 162 games with them. But I don’t think that changes the way they look at me as a friend and competitor.
