A few Red Sox bullet points today…
- David Ortiz told Dennis & Callahan he'd like to play three or four more years, and wants to finish his career with the Red Sox. In my opinion, for that to happen, Ortiz will need to be willing to go one year at a time and also sign for much less than his $12.5MM 2011 club option.
- Also on Dennis & Callahan, catcher Victor Martinez said he has not discussed an extension with the Red Sox yet.
- In an article for Baseball America, Maury Brown notes that the Red Sox exceeded the luxury tax threshold four times but only paid a total of $13.86MM. Maury's article concerns the luxury tax and revenue sharing in general; check it out.
Maybe if Papi signed for around $5mil a year he would be back. I want to see him retire as a Red Sox too.
“In my opinion, for that to happen, Ortiz will need to be willing to go one year at a time and also sign for much less than his $12.5MM 2011 club option.”
Agreed, Tim. I would also add that he will need to stop hitting .238.
If Ortiz is to stay with Boston, he’s going to need a monster year, and be willing to sign on the cheap. Too many big boppers are becoming available for the DH spot; the one guy I can think of is V-Mart, if he can’t catch too well after 2010. Plus, they may want to move him to DH if a catcher becomes available, either on the market or through the farm system. Ortiz will need to MASH this year, I’m thinking 35 home runs, 110 rbis minimum. If he can do that, I can see him staying, although I betcha they won’t pick up his option. Otherwise, his leaving clears a lot of space for other defensively challenged mashers to play for Boston. The DH slot is becoming overstuffed with guys who can hit homers but can’t play on the field, so Ortiz will need to step out in front of the pack to pique Boston’s interest.
Quick question for anyone who knows… which figure is used for luxury tax purposes? Team salary at the beginning of the year or team salary at the end of the year? Depending on when it is, I don’t think either VMart or Beckett for that matter will be signing an extension with the Sox before the season ends. The Sox seem to be at least a little concern about the luxury tax considering they’re opening with their largest team salary ever. But next year contracts come off the books and it’ll be less of an issue.
Ortiz could have stats this coming year like:
avg: .320 OBP: .400 SLG: .570 HR: 38 RBI: 120
In this case the Sox would have a crazy offense, he would be in the top 5 in the MVP voting for the AL and…..
The Red Sox would probably not pick up his option and pay him 12.5 million in 2011. There are ten guys they could sign to DH, they could also sign/trade/bring from the minors a position player and give Youk, Drew, VMart (if he resigns) some time at DH. There just is no real reason to pay someone that chunk of cash to hit #5 or #6 in your order and not play the field.
**NOTE: I am absolutely NOT saying he will have the stats above, i am just making a point that even if he has an outstanding year, paying a 35 year old DH 12.5 million is going to be very hard for Theo**
The only way Ortiz plays 3 to 4 more years and finishes with the Sox is if:
A. He signs a wakefield like deal, where the Sox can decide each year to pick up their option, and the yearly option would have to be something very reasonable (3 or 4 million with incentives)
or B: He signs a two year deal with team X, (team X is not the Red Sox); he realizes he doesn’t have what it takes after those two years are over, then signs with the sox in January 2013. The deal is a 1 year minor league contract and he just barely cracks the roster and is a lefty bat off the bench and 2013 is his farewell tour.
If one of A or B does not happen, David Ortiz is NOT going to retire a Red Sox. End of Story
I love the guy, he has done alot for the team and without him (among others) all sox fans would still be waiting for the first championship since 1918. Its just not gonna happen.
I don’t know if he’d need to sign a Wakefield style deal, but he’d definitely have to take a short contract at way lower pay. I’d love to see him retire for the team and put up another couple good years, but the better money is that if he plays another 3 or 4 years he’ll be playing 2 or 3 of them as a pinch hitter off the bench…
I don’t know if he’d need to sign a Wakefield style deal, but he’d definitely have to take a short contract at way lower pay. I’d love to see him retire for the team and put up another couple good years, but the better money is that if he plays another 3 or 4 years he’ll be playing 2 or 3 of them as a pinch hitter off the bench…
If Ortiz somehow regains his prior form, he probably wouldn’t be willing to go year to year.
If Ortiz somehow regains his prior form, he probably wouldn’t be willing to go year to year.
I dont car if he hits 230-250, as long as he is paid accordingly for it. If he became a normal DH, mediocre average and 25-30 home runs, I can live with that, but he shouldnt hit the $10 million mark anymore. I love Papi, I want him to stay as long as he is reasonable and so are the Red Sox
I dont car if he hits 230-250, as long as he is paid accordingly for it. If he became a normal DH, mediocre average and 25-30 home runs, I can live with that, but he shouldnt hit the $10 million mark anymore. I love Papi, I want him to stay as long as he is reasonable and so are the Red Sox
No kidding Rich, ya think?.
Given the RS history of extracting discounts from their players, the possibility of a continued economic downturn, and the trouble that many aging players have had securing multi-year contract, I don’t think the point is all that obvious.
Your post is so pre-recession.
No, it really isn’t. I’m clearly pointing out that BECAUSE of the economy, the Sox negotiating history and some other factors, most notably his lack of production last year and not playing in the field that he would either have to go year to year or he will be playing for another team next year.
I don’t know how you can say my post is pre-recession, there is nothing pre recession in there at all. If this were 2003, Ortiz may already have a contract extension signed. Not to mention i don’t think Beckett or V’mart would have to worry about where they are playing next year either if this were the beginning of the century and not the current economic climate.
Then your initial response to my post is misleading.
Given the economy, the RS negotiating history, and Ortiz’s age, whether or not he would accept a one year deal may turn on how well he performs this season, but it may not. Ortiz may give the RS a discount, even in the unlikely even that he returns to being a 160ish OPS+ hitter.
That was my point.
Then your initial response to my post is misleading.
Given the economy, the RS negotiating history, and Ortiz’s age, whether or not he would accept a one year deal may turn on how well he performs this season, but it may not. Ortiz may give the RS a discount, even in the unlikely even that he returns to being a 160ish OPS+ hitter.
That was my point.
No, it really isn’t. I’m clearly pointing out that BECAUSE of the economy, the Sox negotiating history and some other factors, most notably his lack of production last year and not playing in the field that he would either have to go year to year or he will be playing for another team next year.
I don’t know how you can say my post is pre-recession, there is nothing pre recession in there at all. If this were 2003, Ortiz may already have a contract extension signed. Not to mention i don’t think Beckett or V’mart would have to worry about where they are playing next year either if this were the beginning of the century and not the current economic climate.
Given the RS history of extracting discounts from their players, the possibility of a continued economic downturn, and the trouble that many aging players have had securing multi-year contract, I don’t think the point is all that obvious.
Your post is so pre-recession.
No kidding Rich, ya think?.