Papelbon closes in on Epstein's arbitration record

• Update: Papelbon signs for one year, $6.25 million.

(Boston Herald): "Since Theo Epstein became Red Sox general manager in November 2002, the club has avoided going to a salary arbitration hearing, managing instead to reach a settlement each time with eligible players."...

• That may be about to change.

(Boston Herald): "The Sox will exchange salary arbitration figures with the agents for closer Jonathan Papelbon, who is eligible to take part in the process for the first time. Papelbon, who made $775,000 last year, frequently has said he wants to be the new standard-bearer for closers, and the best way to do that is to go to arbitration and win.

• Multiple industry sources agree that the likely midpoint figure for Papelbon would be somewhere in the area of $6.25 million, meaning that agents Seth and Sam Levinson can be expected to submit a figure in excess of $7.5 million with the Sox coming in below $5 million.

In the event a case goes to a hearing, arbiters must select either the team’s figure or the player’s submitted number. Hearings will be held Feb. 15-28 in Phoenix."...

• Randy Levine was so eager to beat Chien Ming Wang out of any part of $600,000 that he had a battery of 9 people to face Wang-
• including people from the commissioner's office last February.

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