BOSTON — When Jonathan Papelbon speaks, you never know what’s going to come out of his mouth.

The Red Sox closer wanted to make one thing quite clear Friday afternoon when he talked to a small group of beat writers in the clubhouse at Fenway Park.

“I don’t want to go … play for the Yankees,” he said. “I got a [World Series] ring here. I’m playing for the best team in baseball. I’ve been on a team for the last three years that has been in first place more than any other team in baseball, so why would I want to go anywhere else?”

His comments came a day after he said in an interview on Sirius XM Radio that he would play for the Yankees, or any other team, when his career in Boston is over.

The business of baseball these days makes it unlikely that a player will remain with one team for an extended period of time. Papelbon avoided arbitration during the offseason and signed a one-year deal worth $6.25 million. He’s under the club’s control for the next three seasons.

“Do I want to be with the Red Sox as long as I can? Of course — there’s no question about it,” he said. “I said I would go to any team that I felt was good for my situation, whether it’s the Yankees or whoever. That’s three years away. The other thing is I’m in a situation here where I’m playing for the best general manager and manager in the game of baseball. And, I’ve gotten a World Series ring here. Do I want to go play anywhere else? Hell no.”

During his rambling, seven-minute interview Friday, Papelbon pressed the fact that he is happy in Boston and does not want to go anywhere else.

“I don’t want to play anywhere unless I’m happy. I’m happy playing here and this is where I want to play,” he said. “I also understand there’s a business side of things and sometimes that doesn’t work out. Sometimes you can’t play in a city for 10 or 15 years.”

Ironically, Papelbon made that statement with Tim Wakefield to his left and John Smoltz 10 feet in front of him. Wakefield has played 15 years in Boston, while Smoltz spent 20 years in Atlanta.

“I may not be as lucky as Wake to be able to be in that situation,” said Papelbon. “It [irked me] today because it made it seem like I wanted to go play for them, which is nowhere even close. Nowhere even in the ballpark of what I want to do.”

Papelbon has made it clear that he wants what’s best for his family and his career — no matter where that is. But he made it clear that Boston is where he wants to be.

“My family’s happy and I’m happy,” he said. “Why would I want to play anywhere else?”

Some of his fellow homegrown Red Sox talent — Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia — signed long-term deals to stay in Boston during the offseason, but Papelbon said he’s not worried about it.

“I could have eight one-year deals,” he said. “As long as I’m happy, why would I want to go anywhere? I’m protected here, my family’s happy here and I’m playing for a city and fans who are passionate about the game. So for me to go somewhere else would be completely detrimental to me. I don’t want to go play somewhere else.

“It’s not about the money. It’s not about going and playing for more, because if it was I wouldn’t be closing right now, I would be starting. I know I said what I said and I’m not going to deny that, but I think at times fans may see that and think I don’t want to play here. That’s nowhere even close.”

Papelbon continued to make his case, saying his statements during the radio interview could have been taken the wrong way.

“I can’t say I’m going to be here forever, because that may not happen. Do I want to be here forever? Of course. There’s no question about it. I said I would go play for any team, but for me to go play for any other team I would have to be protected, my family has to be happy and I need to be happy. Right now, that’s here. It’s here in this clubhouse and here at Fenway Park. Why … would I want to play anywhere else?” he said.

“This team does not need me,” he said. “I need the Boston Red Sox more than the Boston Red Sox need me –– believe me when I say it. This is a place where I’m happy. I need a place where I’m happy. If they want to lock me up for a long-term deal, makes no difference to me.”