Dombrowski expresses caution over possible Papelbon reunion

A possible reunion with the club’s former closer is on hold due to Jonathan Papelbon’s indecision, among other issues.

Jonathan Papelbon has had a knack for self-sabotage in recent years, and just a few weeks after being cut loose as a major leaguer, he may have ruined his best chance at getting back into the game this season.

Since being released by the Washington Nationals on August 13 — at his own request, mind you— a reunion between Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox has been widely rumored. Papelbon is in the midst of his worst season as a professional, one where his ERA has soared to 4.37, nearly two runs higher than his career average.

Of course there was the familiarity of player and organization; Papelbon is the Red Sox all-time saves leader, having accumulated 219 in his seven years at Fenway Park. He notched a 1.00 ERA and seven saves in 27 postseason innings in Boston, and won the 2007 World Series title with the team.

Meanwhile, the current Red Sox bullpen has struggled mightily of late, due to a mixture of key injuries and poor replacement play. Aside from closer Craig Kimbrel and the recently acquired Brad Ziegler, the Red Sox bullpen is in a severe state of disarray. With Koji Uehara on the disabled list since late July with a strained pectoral muscle, the team has been forced to move former starters Joe Kelly and Clay Buccholz into more prominent bullpen roles. While Kelly is adjusting to a role in the minors, Buccholz has become a de facto setup man due to the implosions of Junichi Tazawa (10.00 August ERA) and Fernando Abad (5.67 ERA since being acquired from Minnesota at the deadline).

The fact that the team has been forced to deploy Buccholz in such a role, despite the fact he had only one relief appearance in his 10 year career, proves the desperation levels that the Sox have hit as they try to put the stops to a bullpen that could be the difference in staying in both the American League East and Wild Card races.

So it would seem more than ever that Papelbon would be the perfect fit to provide at the very least some experienced stability to the Sox pen, right? Well not according to team president of baseball operations Dave Dowbrowski.

When speaking with WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford, Dowbrowski essentially stated that the team is willing to bring him on, however Papelbon himself is unsure of if he wants to pitch currently. Also, there are concerns regarding his conditioning during the weeks he has been away from the game and if that would prevent him from making the type of immediate impact that the team needs. Papelbon had shown signs of noticeable decline on his arsenal even when he was in the everyday mix in D.C., with his fastball close to 90 mph and his control erratic as well.

“I don’t know what he’s been doing as far as throwing is concerned,” says Dombrowski. “I would doubt that he been throwing a lot….it’s not like just inserting him like it would be if you signed him right off the bat.”

So would bringing Papelbon aboard even make things better in Boston? Who knows, his indifference in being involved when mixed with his sizable record of character concerns certainly makes him a risk regardless of condition. But it says something about the state of arrears the Boston bullpen is in when he is viewed in such a favorable fashion, considering.

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