In a conference call a few minutes ago, Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer said Jonathan Papelbon, who earlier today signed a one-year contract to avoid arbitration, and the team remain open and willing to reach a multi-year contract extension.

"We did have some discussions along the way," Hoyer said. "I would say, certainly, those discussions are open and we may pick them up. I think both sides felt like in the interest of time and not exchanging numbers [for an arbitration hearing], the best thing to do was to agree on a one-year number today. But we are certainly open to exploring those ideas, and I think their side is, too."