Ortiz: Red Sox would welcome Papelbon with 'open arms'
With ambitions of winning a fourth World Series before retiring at the end of the season, David Ortiz is hopeful a former teammate joins him in Boston for the stretch run.
Free-agent reliever Jonathan Papelbon is set to sign with a new team any day now and is said to have interest in returning to the Red Sox. Ortiz is doing his part to convince the right-hander to return to the organization where his career began.
"He started here and the fans love him," Ortiz told ESPN Deportes on Wednesday. "Jonathan is like a brother to me. He's a great guy and an amazing teammate. His teammates were always first to him. It would be fabulous to have him back."
The Red Sox selected Papelbon in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. He went on to convert 219 saves for the club over seven seasons - including locking down the final out to win the 2007 World Series - before signing with the Phillies in 2011.
Formally one of the game's premier closers, Papelbon is far from the reliever he once was. He served as the Nationals' closer for the majority of the season before losing his job to Mark Melancon at the trade deadline and would be released weeks later.
Despite Papelbon owning a 4.37 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 30 appearances, Ortiz is confident he could find his footing back in Boston and believes the Red Sox beleaguered bullpen could use a shot in the arm.
"I don't know what happened there at the Nationals, but he was a great guy and we would welcome him back with open arms," Ortiz said. "And we need help in the bullpen. We definitely do."
Red Sox relievers rank 25 in the majors with a 4.19 ERA over the past month.