Report: ‘Heavy Scouting Presence’ Watching Jonathan Papelbon

The Major league Baseball trade season is officially here and plenty of Phillies will have their name mentioned over the next month and a half before the July 31 deadline.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that there was a "heavy scouting presence" at Jonathan Papelbon's appearance on Thursday.  CBS Sports' MLB insider Jon Heyman follows that up by reporting that the Cubs are Papelbon's "first choice."

Per Rosenthal, the Cubs and Blue Jays were among those in attendance to watch the Phillies closer who is having a fantastic season, with a 1.01 ERA and 31/7 K/BB ratio and 13 innings over 26 2/3 innings.