Ortiz On Sports Final: Hopefully I Won't Have To Wear Another Uniform
BOSTON (CBS) - David Ortiz is fresh off an amazing postseason run that saw him win a third World Series title and his first fall classic MVP award.
Ortiz would love to keep those good times going, and would love to finish his career in a Red Sox uniform. But the slugger says that will be up to the Boston Red Sox, and the next contract they offer him.
"Hey, I would like to. I'm having fun. It's been a hell of a ride as long as I've been here," Ortiz told WBZ-TV's Steve Burton in an interview that aired on Sunday night's Sports Final. "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," he said, hoping for another multi-year extension from Boston.
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But if the Red Sox do not offer him a multi-year deal, or it's not up to Ortiz's standards, the slugger said it would be "time to move on."
"If I have to, I've got no choice," he said. "I'm not going to quit. As long as I keep hitting the ball the way I have, I've got to keep on giving it a try."
Ortiz, who turned 38 in November, has one year remaining on the two-year, $26-million deal he signed last off-season (the deal increased to $30 million after Ortiz did not appear on the DL for 20 days last season). Last season, he hit .309 with 30 home runs and 103 RBI in the regular season, saving his best work for the playoffs. Though he struggled in the ALCS against the Tigers, he hit .353 with five home runs and 13 RBI in the postseason, hitting .688 with six RBI in the World Series.
As for how long he wants to continue his career, Ortiz said he thinks he has at least a couple years left in the tank.
"I'm feeling good. This is not a career that is forever, but as long as I'm having fun and as long as I keep on doing what I'm doing, and I'm healthy, of course, I'm going to keep on giving it a try," said Ortiz.
"I could be two years, three years or 10 years. You never know," he said with a chuckle.
Tune in to WBZ-TV's Sports Final every Sunday night at 11:35 p.m.!