Phillies: Most impactful trade made with every team
Washington Nationals: Jonathan Papelbon for Nick Pivetta
"On July 28, 2015, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Jonathan Papelbon and cash to the Washington Nationals for Nick Pivetta."
When the Phillies signed Jonathan Papelbon just weeks after their heartbreaking 2011 NLDS loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, they were adding among the best closers to ever play the game.
Through seven seasons in a Boston Red Sox uniform, Papelbon posted a 2.33 ERA and 219 saves, while recording 509 strikeouts and just 115 walks across 429 1/3 innings. Papelbon earned four All-Star nods in a Red Sox uniform, and, in the 2007 World Series, tossed 4 1/3 shutout innings coupled with a 0.462 WHIP opposite the Colorado Rockies.
The Phillies had hoped that Papelbon could contribute just as well as Brad Lidge in 2008. While not perfect, he surely outplayed him in terms of regular season play. Through 234 appearances, Papelbon notched a 2.31 ERA and 123 saves, making him the franchise’s all-time saves leader, besting the previous record-holder Jose Mesa (112).
In July 2015, the Phillies opted to deal Papelbon, who they were paying $13 million per year, to the division-rival Washington Nationals in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect and 2013 fourth-round draftee Nick Pivetta.
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Pivetta has since been promoted to the major-league level, being used as a starting pitcher and reliever. He was a candidate to be among the team’s starting pitchers for the 2020 season, prior to spring training and the eventual regular season being delayed.
The controversial Papelbon would finish the 2015 season with the Nationals and would play just one more season overall with them, before his major-league career came to a close. There, he infamous got into a dugout altercation with eventual Phillie Bryce Harper for not running on the base paths. Coincidentally, the game was being played opposite the Phillies.
Papelbon’s 368 saves ranks ninth on the all-time saves list, behind Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), Lee Smith (478), Francisco Rodriguez (437), John Franco (424), Billy Wagner (422), Dennis Eckersley (390), and Joe Nathan (377).
– Matt Rappa contributed to this report