David Ortiz Looking To Finish Red Sox Career With World Series, 'Like It Should Be'
BOSTON (CBS) -- David Ortiz is 37 years old, much closer to the end of his career than the beginning or even the middle. He's coming off a year in which he missed half of the season due to an Achilles injury, which forced him off the field while the Red Sox were falling apart on the field on a nightly basis.
Ortiz's recent history is undoubtedly full of negatives, but his outlook for the near future seems to still be positive.
The longtime Red Sox DH sat down with Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan, and among the many topics covered was Ortiz's plans for his next two years under contract with Boston.
"If I think about retiring, I'll start slowing down," Ortiz told Passan. "I know I got two more years on my contract, and I want to match the best years. That's my goal. Match numbers, win a World Series. And leave this place like it should be."
Ortiz signed a two-year deal worth upwards of $26 million in the offseason. It came after two years of Ortiz lobbying publicly for a multi-year deal, after his option year was picked up in 2011 and he agreed to a one-year deal worth $14.6 million in 2012.
He admitted that last season was a "disaster," due in large part to Bobby Valentine's presence, but the improved chemistry of the 2013 Red Sox could go a long way.
As for his own personal future, Ortiz remains realistic.
"The day is going to come where you're not able to do what you do. And once that day shows up, you've got to take it to the house," Ortiz said. You train yourself to get used to it. It happens to everybody. I don't want to be the guy who waits too long.
"Here's my philosophy: I'm gonna keep helicoptering the ball. If I helicopter the ball and it don't go nowhere, it's enough."
