December 22, 2013, 11:45 a.m.
@avdbkr20samuel
With talk spreading of Jonathan Papelbon being shopped to other clubs, it becomes interesting to think about who might fill his role in the back-end of the Phillies bullpen.
At this point, the Orioles appear to have a sincere interest in Papelbon, but he is owed $26 million over the next two years and the Phillies are unlikely to eat a portion of the contract to make any trade plausible.
At this point, the Orioles appear to have a sincere interest in Papelbon, but he is owed $26 million over the next two years and the Phillies are unlikely to eat a portion of the contract to make any trade plausible.

One of them is lefty, Antonio Bastardo and the other is the young hard-throwing righty, B.J. Rosenberg.
Bastardo is already a somewhat proven closer for the Phillies. In limited opportunities, he compiled a 15-11 record with a 3.65 ERA, while recording 11 saves.
Bastardo's two most impressive seasons in the bullpen were 2011 and 2013. In 2011, he went 6-1 with a 2.64 ERA, while saving eight out of nine games. Last year he had a 3-2 record with a career-high 2.32 ERA, while punching out 47 batters in 42 2/3 innings.
Rosenberg is not yet established, making his debut in 2012 as a late inning reliever. In limited innings, he has recorded one save in one opportunity, but has a 5.44 career ERA.
Nonetheless, he has improved in that category, going from a 6.12 ERA in 2012 to a 4.58 ERA last year.
For now, it seems that if the Papelbon trade were to happen, Bastardo would be the immediate closer. Once Rosenberg develops his fastball and off-speed pitches a bit more, he could be given more chances to prove himself as the future closer.
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