Terry Francona didn't rule out Jonathan Papelbon returning to the closer role. "To be perfectly honest, I suppose the possibility exists, but I think it's a very long shot," Francona said. "I think a lot of things have to happen for that to eventually happen, and I don't see that happening. The first thing is that he'd have to be medically cleared to do it, and that's the reason he's in the starting rotation. It's not because we don't think he can close. "If I had my druthers, he would be our closer. That's how I feel. It's not happening. We have to respect the medical people's advice -- and I do. I'm not fighting it. They think for his long-term not only success but health, this is the way to go about it. And I understand that, so we'll do it. Unless that changed, it can't happen."