Candid Papelbon colorfully explains why the Phillies should trade him

“I made a decision based on going to a Philadelphia Phillies team that won 102 games”, he said. Papelbon also has a 17-team no-trade list, though he obviously wouldn’t invoke it, assuming he’s going to a team where he’d remain a closer. “I personally thought that I was going to come to Philly and be abused (get a lot of work)”. Papelbon said. “Some of the fans really get me and love me, and some of them don’t get me at all and despise me. I do want to get out of Philly, but I need to make a smart decision”. “We’ve got a new interim manager and we’ve got all this change supposedly happening, but I don’t see any of it yet”.

Papelbon has made it clear for more than a year that he would like to be traded. I won’t be happy but it’s not going to stop how I perform. With the process dragging on, he admitted the thought has crossed his mind he might be stuck in Philadelphia beyond July 31. I’m a lot more humble of a guy than I used to be. If another team comes to the Phillies and they have an offer and the Phillies don’t like it or accept it, I can’t do anything about that. “So I’ve only got so much power”. I honestly did. And, you know, the downward spiral happened and it happened so quick that it’s nearly unexplainable. “But it’s just not”.

Papelbon, 34, has 14 saves and a 1.60 ERA in 32 outings and is making his sixth career All-Star Game appearance. Four of the six earned runs charged to him this season have come in non-save situations.

Papelbon said it’s been tough competing in Philadelphia. Even after the trade deadline, he still will be owed a shade more than $4.5 million for the rest of the season.

The issue with trading him is his $13-million salary, and particularly an option for $13 million for 2016 that vests with 48 games finished (he already has 29 so it’s likely to vest unless he’s traded to a team where he doesn’t close).

“Here’s the deal: Whether I go to Toronto or Chicago or stay in Philly, the only consistent thing that’s gonna happen is that I’ll prepare to compete, ” Papelbon said. The more they subsidize, the better the potential return.

And just in case there’s any doubt where he wants to go, Papelbon answered that too.

“If it was up to me, I’d have been gone a long time ago”, he said, before pointing out the obvious which is, of course, that it is not his call. The Blue Jays appear “a good fit”, he noted.

He said the Red Sox “did everything they could for their players”. But ultimately, much of it is out of his control. “I signed up with a team that won 102 games and I expected certain things”. I’ve tried to ride that ship as much as I can. But I only have so much power.

“I’m surprised I’m still a Phillie”, the 34-year-old closer said.

“I feel like three years is plenty enough time to ride it out, so to speak”.

Jonathan Papelbon said at All-Star Media Day on Tuesday that he wants to be traded by the Phillies.

“I’m not sure if just sitting down speaking with Ruben exclusively is going to get something done”, he said. I’ll make a decision to go to a place that contends and win a championship.