Papelbon's no-trade list limits Nationals

By Josh Land

Nationals

December 17, 2015, 5:31am

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Jonathan Papelbon's short stay in Washington hasn't been peaceful. An unwelcoming entrance preceded a disastrous dugout brawl with Bryce Harper leading to a season-ending team-imposed suspension.

Now Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is working to clear the embarrassment and start fresh in 2016. But it's not so easy with Papelbon who brings a limited no-trade clause to the table.

Papelbon going into tunnel sidebar.jpg Let's start with the positive. ESPN obtained the list of teams Rizzo can deal Papelbon to without his consent: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

That leaves 17 teams without negotiation for Rizzo: Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.

Certainly a bizarre and unpredictable list. Why would he leave out teams like the Giants, Pirates, Dodgers, Tigers and Yankees? Then again, why would he instigate a fight with the soon-to-be National League Most Valuable Player in front of the cameras during the eighth inning of a meaningless game in the final week of the season?