Free agent designated hitter David Ortiz seeks a three-year deal, reports Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. An industry source tells Silverman Ortiz is drawing "serious interest" from more than one team and has an offer in hand. He and the Red Sox maintain mutual interest about a new deal, and Ortiz intends to allow them to match any offer.
One wrinkle for Ortiz is that signing him comes with the tax of the loss of a draft pick, assuming he turns down Boston's arbitration offer. If Ortiz is serious about getting multiple years, he'll have to turn down that arbitration offer on December 7th. The Blue Jays, a somewhat reasonable match for Big Papi, probably aren't keen on giving the Red Sox their #17 pick in next year's draft. Last week, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports wrote that the arbitration offer is one reason the Red Sox are "more likely than not" to retain Ortiz.
