Report: Phillies Trying to Trade Johnathan Papelbon

In what is months overdue, the Phillies could be in the market for a closer.

According to a FOX Sports report, the Phillies are trying to trade closer Johnathan Papelbon.

In doing so, the Phillies would achieve two things: unloading Papelbon's massive contract and unloading a disgruntled, unhappy closer with decreasing velocity.

Papelbon has three years remaining on a four year, $50 million deal he signed in 2011. He is owed $13 million in 2014, 2015 and a vesting option for $13 million in 2016.

Rosenthal and Jim Salisbury report that Papelbon has a limited no-trade clause in his contract that stipulates only 12 teams he's allowed to be traded to.

Jon Heyman, CBS Sports, furthers the report in saying that 'folks' with the Phillies want Johnathan Papelbon out of the clubhouse as he has proven to be a negative influence.

It is unknown at this time what 12 teams are on Papelbon's list, or what the Phillies could be asking for in return.

MLB will kick off their annual Winter Meetings in Orlando beginning this Sunday, they'll conclude late next week before presumably taking the rest of the year off for the holidays.