cha-ching

Jonathan Papelbon’s bank account is fixin’ to get a lot more robust. The former Mississippi State star, who made $6.25 million with the Boston Red Sox last year, has filed for salary arbitration and is expected to exchange figures with the club by midday Tuesday. The Red Sox may also try to cut a deal before arbitration hearings begin in February. The record arbitration figure for a closer reportedly is the $10 million the Angels’ Francisco Rodriguez commanded in 2008. Papelbon might get close to that. The intimidating right-hander had a 1.85 ERA and 38 saves a year ago. There’s really none better at what he does. … Brandon Medders, another MSU alumnus and big league reliever, got an $820,000 deal from the San Francisco Giants last week, avoiding arbitration. Medders, a late-inning situational guy, was 5-1 with a 3.01 ERA and one save in 61 games. There’s good money in being a specialist these days.
P.S. Former Mississippi Braves outfielder Quentin Davis re-signed with the New Jersey Jackals of the independent Can-Am League. Davis, who seemed overmatched in Double-A in his 2008 tour, was released by Atlanta last summer and caught on with the Jackals. He hit .344 with 11 stolen bases.