Papelbon could see himself in Boston
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon returned to Fenway Park this weekend for the first time since leaving the Red Sox.
A Boston reporter - primed to feast on a sound byte - asked Papelbon Monday if he would ever consider a return to Boston, even after all that's happened and the fact that he includes the Red Sox on his "no trade" list.
In his final performance with the team, Papelbon allowed a bottom of the ninth inning comeback win to the Baltimore Orioles, a loss that, moments later, cost Boston a spot in the 2011 playoffs.
This came after spending the entirety of his seven-year career in Beantown, becoming a fan favorite for his shutdown talent, bizarre personality, brazen statements, and post-World Series victory jigs.
Seeing the Red Sox perform far better than expected in 2013, after jumping ship to join the Philles (a ship that was sinking at a slightly slower rate until recently), may have loosened up Paps' heart strings.
Or he may feel an impending fire sale as the Phillies slip further and further from relevance.