In retrospect, it hasn’t been easy to replace Jonathan Papelbon, who left the Red Sox before the 2012 season and signed a lucrative four-year, $50 million deal with Philadelphia.

The Red Sox traded for Oakland’s Andrew Bailey, sending Josh Reddick to the A’s. Reddick had a super season for Oakland, hitting 32 homers and winning a Gold Glove in right field. But Bailey had thumb surgery during spring training and didn’t return until August. The Red Sox went with Alfredo Aceves in the role and he was up and down at best.