Bobby Jenks, the closer who won a World Series title with the White Sox in 2005, agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Boston Red Sox

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/sports/baseball/17bats.html

Red Sox Add Jenks, Bolstering Relief Corps
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Published: December 16, 2010


Bobby Jenks, the closer who won a World Series title with the White Sox in 2005, agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, according to a baseball official with knowledge of the contract.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity. The agreement was first reported by ESPN.com.
The acquisition of Jenks raised questions about the future of Jonathan Papelbon, Boston’s current closer, who will be a free agent after this season. Papelbon struggled in 2010, posting a career-high 3.90 earned run average and going 5-7 with 37 saves.
For now, Jenks, who will be 30 in March, is expected to be Boston’s setup man, but he could compete with the 25-year-old Daniel Bard for the closer’s role should the Red Sox try to trade Papelbon this season, or not re-sign him for 2011.
Bard struck out 76 hitters in 74 2/3 innings out of the bullpen last season, compiling a 1.93 E.R.A. in 73 appearances.
Jenks had an uneven season last year; his E.R.A. ballooned to 4.44 as he struggled with injuries in the second half of the season. He saved 27 games but eventually lost his closer’s role as he dealt with ulnar neuritis in his right forearm.
He made $7.5 million last season and became a free agent when the White Sox did not tender him a contract earlier this month.
Jenks had 173 saves for the White Sox, second in club history, after joining the team midseason in 2005. He posted four saves in the postseason that year as the White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win their first World Series since 1917.
The Red Sox also agreed to a one-year deal with the right-handed reliever Matt Albers. (NYT)

Looks like Boston has lost confidence in Jonathon Papelbon and want to keep Daniel Bard as their set up man for a another couple of years by accquiring Jenks. I wonder if Papelbon will take a roles as co-set up man with Bard. Sure he blew some saves last year but he still IMO has the stuff to make an excellent Bullpen set-up man vs righthanders especially.

A top notch lefthanded reliever most likely on Theo´s need list.

wil.

wil.

Jenks had lost a lot last season. It willl be interesting to see if he regains his all-star form.

I'm hearing Sox would take a little less than market value for Paps.
I was hoping Long Island/St. John's flame thrower Craig Hansen would pan out, but that never happened.

wilheim said:

Looks like Boston has lost confidence in Jonathon Papelbon and want to keep Daniel Bard as their set up man for a another couple of years by accquiring Jenks. I wonder if Papelbon will take a roles as co-set up man with Bard. Sure he blew some saves last year but he still IMO has the stuff to make an excellent Bullpen set-up man vs righthanders especially.

A top notch lefthanded reliever most likely on Theo´s need list.

wil.

wil.

Click to expand...

I think it is way way way to early to give up on PAPS............kid is still relatively young.

Now he may never save 10 games in his career again, but on the flipside he may have 150+ saves left in that arm..........just sayin.