David Ortiz Confirms Retirement In Player's Tribune Video: 'Time Is Up'
By Matt Dolloff (@mattdolloff)
BOSTON (CBS) -- While reports Tuesday said that David Ortiz would retire following the 2016 baseball season, the announcement hadn't come from the man himself. But now, Ortiz has confirmed that 2016 will indeed be his final season.
Ortiz confirmed his impending retirement Wednesday in a video for Derek Jeter's Player's Tribune, which offers an outlet for players to speak their mind and tell their sides of stories. Ortiz made it clear that he's ready to move on.
"For every single one of us, we run out of time at some point," Ortiz said on the finite nature of professional sports careers. "Life is based on different chapters, and I think I'm ready to experience the next one in my life."
Ortiz also said he wants to be remembered as a player who was "just part of the family" and a teammate that "always had good thoughts for everyone around" him. In Boston, he certainly will.
And like every other pro athlete ever, Ortiz wants his career to last much longer: "I wish I could play another 40 years."
What about the potential "farewell tour" that Ortiz could get throughout 2016? He has previously said he doesn't want to go out that way, but offered a hint that he may have changed his mind.
"After next year, time is up. So let's enjoy next season," he said.
Farewell tour or not, Red Sox fans only have 162 regular season games - and hopefully 11 or so playoff games - left to enjoy watching Big Papi enter the batter's box. So if the Red Sox still aren't contenders next season, you have another reason to watch.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.