Dombrowski: Red Sox awaiting Papelbon decision

The Boston Red Sox are still waiting to hear back from Jonathan Papelbon.

Though the recently released 35-year-old was reportedly nearing a decision as to where he'll sign, Papelbon remains unemployed as September looms, and Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday it isn't because of a lack of interest.

"We did express some interest, but he has to decide what he wants to do," Dombrowski said during an interview with MLB Network Radio. "We are open, we did call, he has to decide."

Papelbon, who requested his release from the Washington Nationals two weeks after losing the closer's role to Mark Melancon, was reportedly open to reuniting with the Red Sox earlier this month, according to WEEI's John Tomase, but a subsequent report indicated the organization is no longer all that optimistic a deal will happen.

While Papelbon has stumbled through the worst season of his career, managing a 4.37 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 37 appearances, the Red Sox need help in their bullpen. Since the All-Star break, while weathering injuries to Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara, Boston's bullpen has stumbled to the fourth-worst ERA in the American League (4.07), managing just a 2.24 strikeout-to-walk ratio while suffering through 22 meltdowns over that span.

Last week, incidentally, soon-to-be-retired Red Sox star David Ortiz told ESPN Deportes he'd love to have Papelbon back in Boston, where the two shared a clubhouse for seven years before the closer signed with Philadelphia following the 2011 campaign.

"He started here and the fans love him," Ortiz said. "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."