Ortiz Wants Respectable Deal From Red Sox
BOSTON (CBS) – David Ortiz will be a free agent after this season, and told the Boston Herald he wants to finish his career with the Red Sox.
But at the same time, Ortiz wants a respectable deal from the organization.
"In my case, it's not even all about the money," Ortiz told the Herald. "It's all about respect. That's the way I see it."
"It's been, what, three years now that I've got to be answering this question, and I've been one of the most productive players on this ballclub. Why me?" Ortiz asked.
Ortiz has been vocal about his contract situation the last couple of years, with the DH accepting arbitration last season. He reportedly turned down a two-year, $18 million deal before Boston offered him arbitration.
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Once again, he wants a multi-year deal in hopes of retiring with the Red Sox. Ortiz has played just one game the last two months after suffering an Achilles injury in July, but put up solid numbers in a season that most will want to soon forget. In 90 games this season, Ortiz hit .318 with 23 home runs and 60 RBI.
With the Red Sox shipping Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to Los Angeles, they took nearly $250 million off their books. With a thin free agent crop of power bats, Ortiz thinks getting re-upped by the Red Sox should be a layup.
"I think that would be the smart thing to do. It's not like they have a whole lot of choice," Ortiz said. "Not just me, either. We've got to go out there this offseason and put some things together so we can compete next year. The most important thing that they need, they have it. It's the money. After that, you can go out there and chase anybody."
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"The money they saved this year in contracts, they're not going to spend that on two players like they did before. You've got to see what you need, make it better, and you go about it. Period. I can help do that for them."
However, the decision will ultimately come down to the Red Sox front office.
"I'm wide open to come back and play here. I know I'm up to the challenge. But at some point, it's not on me," said Ortiz.
