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Brewers GM on Papelbon trade talks: 'Right now there's nothing happening'

Bill Streicher / USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Papelbon appears to be staying put in Philadelphia, at least for now.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have not discussed a deal for the right-hander for a second consecutive day after reports surfaced Thursday the two clubs were engaged in serious talks, reports Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel.

"It doesn't appear there's any momentum to it right now," Brewers general manager Bob Melvin said. "It could be revived later, I guess, but right now there's nothing happening.

"Whatever traction there was seems to have dissipated."

Haudricourt speculates Papelbon's no-trade clause, which includes Milwaukee, and his vesting option for 2016 are the main hurdles to getting a deal done.

The Brewers need a closer to replace the departed Francisco Rodriguez, who is still lingering on the free agent market. Jonathan Broxton could be an internal candidate to fill the role, or Milwaukee could seek the services or Rafael Soriano or Casey Janssen.

Papelbon recorded 39 saves and 63 strikeouts over 66 1/3 innings for the Phillies in 2014.

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