"He's gone. This is it. One more season and Jonathan Papelbon and the Red Sox get divorced. In 2011, Papelbon is the dead man walking (and striking out) batters on the Fenway Park mound. You can search long and far before you find a single soul who believes Papelbon will be part of the Red Sox next season.

It's been the organization's blueprint from Day 1. It's been Papelbon's plan, also. Give the Sox six full seasons of stellar relief, fire every bullet, then sign a megabucks deal with another team.

Papelbon knows it. General manager Theo Epstein knows it. We are on the threshold of Papelbon's final campaign at Fenway, which makes this Sox season of great expectations a tad awkward for both parties."