BALTIMORE -- Take it from none other than David Ortiz: Jonathan Papelbon would fit in just fine with the Boston Red Sox.I dont know what happened there at the Nationals, but he was a great guy and we would welcome him back with open arms, Ortiz told ESPN Deportes before the Red Sox faced the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. And we need help in the bullpen. We definitely do.Papelbon requested and received his release from the Washington Nationals last Saturday, making him a free agent. The Red Sox have expressed interest in the 35-year-old reliever, who also has been linked to the Chicago Cubs and likely is getting calls from several other playoff contenders.In addition to a stretch of five consecutive dreadful appearances in which he gave up nine runs on nine hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings and was replaced as the Nationals closer by the recently acquired Mark Melancon, Papelbons attitude in the clubhouse had become toxic, according to one National League scout.But the Red Sox know Papelbon well. They drafted him in 2003, developed him in their farm system and won a World Series with him as their closer in 2007. Papelbon is the organizations all-time saves leader with 219 over seven seasons from 2005 to 11. And although manager John Farrell has described the high-strung Papelbon as a unique guy in many ways, Papelbon retains a strong relationship with Farrell, second baseman Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz.He started here and the fans love him, Ortiz told ESPN Deportes. Jonathan is like a brother to me. Hes 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 continue to sort out roles in their bullpen. Although Craig Kimbrel is cemented as the closer, Papelbon could be a potential solution in the eighth inning, where the Sox have been seeking a replacement for setup man Koji Uehara, who is sidelined indefinitely by a right pectoral strain.On Tuesday, Farrell said he has reached out to Papelbon to discuss a return to Boston, a sign that the Red Sox believe his recent struggles on the mound in Washington arent indicative of an irreversible decline.Theres no question hes a different pitcher now than nine years ago, Farrell said, alluding to a decrease in average fastball velocity from 95.0 mph when Papelbon left the Red Sox after the 2011 season to 90.9 mph this year. Hes evolved as more of a quote-unquote pitcher rather than relying solely on velocity and a fastball that he would attack with. With the exception of a stretch in July where maybe the performance was less than what Pap has been maybe accustomed to, hes been an effective pitcher.In 37 appearances with the Nationals this season, Papelbon posted a 4.37 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 14 walks in 35 innings. Tom Brady Jersey Retro . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. Youth Tom Brady Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/michael-jordan-jersey/ . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Cheap Sports JerseysMichael Jordan Jersey Nike . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Wednesday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- NEW YORK -- Madison Bumgarner brings his outstanding October resume to the mound when he pitches for the San Francisco Giants in the NL wild-card game against Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets. The winner moves on to face the Chicago Cubs in a best-of-five Division Series. Game starts 8:09 p.m.- ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Rangers and Blue Jays meet in an ALDS rematch beginning Thursday. When they last played May 15 in Texas, there was a bench-clearing brawl after Rougned Odor punched Jose Bautista, whose game-winning homer in the ALDS clincher last October included that emphatic bat flip.- CLEVELAND -- There are connections in both dugouts in the ALDS series between Boston and Cleveland, but none stronger than for Indians manager Terry Francona, who guided the Red Sox to two World Series titles and beginning Thursday will face them for the first time in October.- WASHINGTON -- Max Scherzer remembers the advice he received before his first playoff start nearly a decade ago -- and it turned out to be terrible advice. Coming off a 20-win season that included a 20-strikeout game, Scherzer will start Game 1 of the NLDS for the Nationals on Friday against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers.- Big Papi, Kris Bryant, Bryce Harper and Adrian Beltre are just a few of the offensive stars leading their teams into the postseason. Often, its guys like Adam Kennedy, Cody Ross, Craig Counsell and Marco Scutaro who emerge as October heroes. Heres a Pick 6 of lesser-known players who could shine when the bright lights are on this postseason.- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- He was allowed to work out with his longtime training guru and threw passses with former Patriots receiver Wes Welker.dddddddddddd But he had an abbreviated preseason that included few game reps with new additions like Martellus Bennett and Chris Hogan, or favorite target Rob Gronkowski. After not being allowed to have contact with his coaches or teammates for the past month, just how game-ready is Tom Brady? And how does he go about getting himself up to speed in time for Sundays road game at Cleveland?- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton has a concussion, putting his availability for Monday nights game against Tampa Bay in doubt.- One of the true negatives of Thursday night games is seeing key players, often stars, unable to participate because of the short turnaround. That looks like the case this week for the Arizona Cardinals, whose quarterback, Carson Palmer, has been in the NFLs concussion protocol. And with the Cardinals at 1-3, just like their opponent, San Francisco, this is no time to be short-handed.- MIAMI -- Teams all over the Eastern seaboard keep an eye on Hurricane Matthew, with the massive storm set to hit Florida on Thursday and then churn up the coast.- AUSTIN, Texas -- Welcome to the Big 12, where the worst job in college football is being a defensive coordinator. Or maybe its just that the coaches doing the worst job are Big 12 defensive coordinators.- LONDON -- Troubled heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury says he has been bingeing on cocaine and alcohol to deal with manic depression.- VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach are set to speak at the first global conference on faith and sport. ' ' '