Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Papelbon is the Phillies’ only All-Star, but he’d rather not be the Phillies’ anything. For the last year or so, Paps has been letting everyone know he’d rather be traded and play for a contender, and being named to the All-Star team hasn’t stopped that at all. According to Ryan Lawrence, Paps passed up the chance to talk about being an All-Star in order to talk about not being a Phillie:

“I would be surprised [not to be traded],” Papelbon said. “Yeah, that would be a pretty valid answer.”

Is it fair to say he’d be disappointed, too?

“Yeah, I would say so,” Papelbon said.

Papelbon repeatedly said it’s on the Phillies front office, which committed to a rebuild this winter, to make a deal happen.

“I don’t make these decisions,” Papelbon said. “The front office knows where my heart is and where my mind is. And that’s to be with a contending ballclub. The ball is in their court, so to speak.”

When he actually did talk about the All-Star game, Paps gave a nice, human answer about his kids being older and getting to experience Fan Fest and all that. But then, he totally squandered all of his niceness by reminding everyone that he’s still Jonathan Papelbon. When asked if this could be his last memorable moment in a Phillies uniform, something he obviously cares very little for, Paps admitted he’s confused: “You know what? Honestly I don’t know what to think anymore. I don’t. I don’t know how to really answer that.”

And if he gets his way, he won’t have to answer it much longer. Thankfully. For all of us.