The Boston Red Sox finally caved last offseason and signed David Ortiz to a two-year contract extension. In 2012, Ortiz and the Sox had agreed to a one-year deal after what he deemed “humiliating” contract negotiations. Big Papi may be 38, but he just turned in one of the best seasons of his career and put the team on his back in October en route to a World Series championship.
Ortiz showed no signs of aging in 2013, when he belted 30 home runs and drove in 103. He has hit .312 over the past three seasons after batting .257 over the previous three. Old man Papi, who is signed through 2014, now wants a multi-year extension. And if he doesn’t get it, he claims he’ll be wearing another uniform.
“Time to move on,” Ortiz said when asked what he will do if the Red Sox only offer him a one-year deal.
Ideally, Big Papi would like to retire in the city that worships him as much as any other athlete in Boston sports history has been worshipped.
“Hey, I would like to,” he said. “I’m having fun. It’s been a hell of a ride as long as I’ve been here. But as I always keep on telling people, this is a business. Sometimes you’ve got to do what’s best for you and your family.
“As long as they keep offering me a job and I keep doing what I’m supposed to do and the relationship keeps on building up, I’m going to be there. Hopefully, I won’t have to go and wear another uniform.”
Ortiz, who hit .688 in the World Series, said he is not going to walk away from baseball while he is still swinging the bat at a high level. We wouldn’t expect him to, but there are very few teams who would be willing to ignore his age. Big Papi is going to start breaking down at some point — that’s just science. Chances are, he’ll remain more valuable to the Red Sox than any other team in baseball.
