NatsInsider · Sep 29, 2015
Papelbon’s long-term future after incident is murky
USA Today Sports ImagesThe Nationals took swift action Monday to address Jonathan Papelbon’s short-term future with the organization, suspending the volatile closer for the remainder of the season after his dugout attack on Bryce Harper the previous afternoon.
The organization’s long-term plan for Papelbon, though, remains quite murky.
Papelbon is under contract for another season; that was among the biggest selling points to acquire him from the Phillies in July, in general manager Mike Rizzo’s mind. The fact Papelbon was willing to rework his deal, reducing his 2016 salary from $14 million to $11 million (with $3 million of that salary deferred to 2017), helped matters, as well.