money

Jonathan Papelbon’s rough year didn’t hurt him in the wallet. The former Mississippi State standout reportedly has agreed to a $12 million deal for 2011, avoiding arbitration with the Boston Red Sox. Papelbon, who made $9.35 million last year, will be a free agent after the coming season. Papelbon had 37 saves last year for the injury-plagued BoSox, but he blew eight saves, posted a 5-7 record and saw his ERA jump two runs per game to 3.90. He is still one of the best closers out there, but he slipped a notch in 2010 and needs to show some better stuff this summer.
P.S. Good to see that MLB Network ranked former Jackson Met Ron Gardenhire as the third-best manager currently in the game, behind Terry Francona and Mike Scioscia. Gardenhire doesn’t get enough props for his work in Minnesota. Also on the list, at No. 8, was Buck Showalter, the Mississippi State alumnus now running the Baltimore Orioles. That was a tad surprising. Showalter’s been a winner in three other jobs but never lasts very long. He made the 10-man list while Joe Maddon and Ozzie Guillen, to name just a couple of curious omissions, didn’t.