Et Tu, Papelbon?

Remember when the Sox were trying to get A-ROD and dish Nomar at the same time, and one of the Red Sox -- Kevin Millar, wasn't it? -- said in an interview when it looked like a done deal that the deal sounded great and he'd probably rather have AROD than Nomar at short, and Nomar got all hurt?

How would you feel if you're Jon Lester or Coco Crisp, and you have Papelbon not only saying he likes the idea of the deal for Santana, but that Ellsbury is the one untouchable guy here? And that while the young players have promise, that you don't know if they can be on a championship team, especially when Lester won a Series game?

Pap was in a tough spot though. Other than no comment, there's probably not much to say there and not hurt anyone.

Anyway, the deal is probably a good one if it leaves out Jacoby and Clay Bucholz. But for some reason, my New England pessimism has me worried that Santana would come here and then blow out his arm or something.




From Boston.com

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon likes the idea of trading with the Twins and having Johan Santana on his team next season.

“I like it,” said Papelbon on sports radio WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan show this morning when he was asked about his thoughts on a possible trade that could send center fielder Coco Crisp, lefthander Jon Lester, shortstop prospect Jed Lowrie, and righthanded pitching prospect Justin Masterson to the Twins for Santana, Minnesota’s prized lefthanded ace.

“Here’s how you gotta look at it, it’s simple, you put together a team to try to win a championship every offseason right?” Papelbon said. “OK, if you can do that, and obtain a guy that could help you do that, which you know he can help do that, you do it. Yes, you do have a lot of faith in these young kids, but whoever may be in the equation as a young kid, you don’t know what they’re gonna do at a big-league level. You don’t know if they’re capable of being on a championship club. You know that with Santana.”

While Papelbon seems OK with sending teammates Jon Lester and Coco Crisp packing for Minnesota, he’s hesitant to part with rising star Jacoby Ellsbury.

“No, you keep him,” Papelbon said.