Report: Papelbon not looking for new team due to family issue

Jonathan Papelbon may yet pitch in the majors once again, but he's not actively searching for a new home.

The mercurial closer, whose 2016 season ended when he was released by the Washington Nationals in August, isn't talking to teams about a contract for next season due to a personal matter involving his family, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

His agent, Seth Levinson, asked that his client's privacy be "respected" while he deals with the issue, per Cafardo.

Papelbon was cut by the Nationals after a rocky tenure in the nation's capital that included him choking Bryce Harper in the dugout during a 2015 game. The 36-year-old was ineffective during his time as the team's closer in 2016, posting a career-worst 4.37 ERA and 1.457 WHIP in 37 games.

Although he received interest from the Boston Red Sox - the team he enjoyed the most success with - after his release, Papelbon remained unsigned through the balance of 2016.

Despite running into trouble throughout his 12-year career, he was one of the more effective closers in baseball during his peak. His 368 career saves rank ninth all time, and were the third-most among active relievers at the time of his release.