David Ortiz hasn’t heard from the Red Sox about an extension, but the team is prepared to pick up the slugger’s 2011 option, a source told Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com. Ortiz has said all year that he wants to return to Boston and would like an extension; so far, the Red Sox have not given Big Papi any indication that they’re going to offer a multi-year deal.
The Red Sox can bring the 34-year-old back for $12.5MM by exercising his 2011 option. They’ll surely be tempted to retain Ortiz for another season, since he has 28 homers and .262/.365/.528 line despite another awful start.
Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero, Carlos Pena, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko are just a few of the first base/DH types that will surface in this offseason’s free agent class. The Red Sox would have alternatives if they turn down Ortiz’s option, but they seem ready to spend $12.5MM to keep Big Papi around.
At this point, its hard to picture Big Papi in anything but a red sox jersey..
maybe we’ll see the return of david arias to the twins!
Johnny Damon will be available!
are they really in a rush to pay ortiz 12.5 mill to occupy their dh slot? curious…
Theo operates at the same speed as 17 year old boy on prom night trying to force his hands down some girls dress. It is appropriate, no. Rushed, yes. Result, smacked in the face.
Were you just looking for an excuse to make that joke? Theo is constantly panned for taking too long to act most of the time. He’s typically a pretty methodical GM (Rarely makes big moves at the deadline at the expense of young talent, generally avoids long term contracts). Your description is pretty much the exact opposite of Theo’s MO.
Have fun getting 185 out of your DH slot for another 2 months
??
No clue, was wondering the same.
I think he means that Ortiz will start out slow again in 2011 like he has the last couple of years.
I’m guessing batting average, referring to his widely published slow starts to the last two seasons.
Most batters go into slumps and surges. That’s why we look at an entire season’s worth of data. People say you’re a slow starter if you slump early, you’re streaky if you do it in the middle of the season, and you’re choking if it happens late. Usually there is nothing different in the player’s mechanics, approach, or methods when these slumps occur. Sometimes adjustments do have to be made to adjust to a new approach pitchers and coaches are taking against them. It is unfair to completely give up on a player based on a slump.
Why ask why?
They should resign V-Mart as the primary DH and back-up Catcher/1B and let Ortiz walk.
VMart would never sign knowing he’d be the primary DH unless it’s a 5+ year deal. There’s no way he’d get that length of a deal from the BoSox. Signing him as a DH severely lowers his value.
No one who is serious about winning will sign him as a catcher.
You’re dumb. V-Mart is a catcher. No team will sign him for DH. Guy plays solid behind the plate and has several pitchers in this rotation that are slow to the plate (Beckett, Clay, Papelbon). He isn’t a bad catcher and everyone seems to know this except fans.
Sorry to insult your son, Mrs. Martinez. I guess they were all slow to the plate in Cleveland as well. And in the minors. And in high school…
When you find his high school throwing statistics I will eat my hat.
I disagree with both of you, lol.
First of all, the catcher position is so thin VMart (even with his defensive inabilities) is one of the best in the game. His offense makes up for his below average defense, but his defense is not so bad that it would prevent any contending from signing him.
He has gotten progressively better throughout the season on throwing out runners. For a while, he was double clutching the baseball before releasing it. His struggles were not really about his skills, they were about his technique. Once he started getting rid of the ball quicker, things improved…to probably closer to average. He’s still one of the weakest defense catchers, but I don’t think that will be a complete deterrent as long as teams realize he will probably not be a catcher for any longer than the next 4 seasons.
jwredsox also made a good point about the pitchers though. He does catch Wakefield & Dice-K..who are probably the slowest to the plate in the league.
The fact is, he will find a job..on a contending team…and still be one of the best catchers in the game.
I didn’t mean he was the best but what bugs me is that people assume that because he has trouble throwing out runners he is bad overall. He isn’t bad behind the plate and, like you said, his offense makes up for it. I’d bet you half of the teams in the MLB would want him as their catcher the next 3 years and he won’t be a DH for a while.
Exactly…in fact, he’s an upgrade for most teams in contention now…he’s 1 of 9 catchers in the league that even have enough plate appearances to qualify
I’m not a fan of this move… He’s already starting to bark for an extension and the Sox have the potential of being mediocre next year. The potential of locker room distractions is endless. I think that if you are going to move forward, you need to move on from Ortiz and look to lock up V-Mart.
It’s not a bad move. They can afford him and despite the slow starts, he’s still to be a capable run producer in his waning years. Someone mentioned keeping V-Mart instead to DH. V-Mart is overrated as a player if he isn’t behind the plate. Otherwise his production is rather ordinary. And he’s been injury prone recently. Being a switch hitter is a plus, but I think I’d rather have Ortiz if choosing between the 2.
The slow starts and his inability to hit lefties make that contract too large and waste of money. He is batting .230 with a .321 OBP against lefties. The money is better spent on Beltre, outfielders, or the bullpen. Use the DH to rotate and rest players.
I agree that it is way overpaying for Ortiz, but I think that if they decline his option and try to resign him at a lower price, he will go with another team out of spite. The team needs him for PR moves for no other reason. The team needs to up their marketing arm to get fan interest back and letting him go will just drop it that much more.
Logically, though, you are correct, the money can be spent better. But, I don’t think that that will happen. I think it is a good business decision, but a not so good baseball decision. I think he will still be decent, but not up to the level of this season.
Au contrare! Fans are bored with constantly watching big Papi strike out. It is almost automatic if a decent lefty is on the mound. This is a classic case of the front office foisting a 1/4th player whose reputation is based upon something he did five years ago, on the team’s loyal fandom. I, for one, would certainly find it more palpable to watch Lars Anderson strike out twice a game, than watch Ortiz do it. At least there would be hope that Anderson, in time, might learn to hit a major league curve ball and slider, with regularity and with power. Diss on Theo for this move..
Yeah but if you knew about baseball you’d know Lars has a better chance of learning that stuff in AAA with no pressure than in Boston. Ortiz for 1 more year isn’t going to kill them. They still have money coming off the books and have enough for Crawford, Beltre, and probably V-Mart if they want. What they don’t want is to pay Ortiz a 2 year deal. And this is the safest way because he said he doesn’t want a 1 yr deal.
If you check out the “2011 Contract Issues: Boston Red Sox” piece, Tim estimates the Red Sox will have ~40MM if they keep payroll steady. So, your idea that they could afford Ortiz at 12.5MM and have enough for Crawford, Beltre and “probably” V-Mart is way off. Crawford’s looking at 16-18MM per, Beltre is looking at ~12MM per and V-Mart is probably looking for at least 10MM per. On the conservative side that’s 38MM right there without Ortiz. Add in the fact that the Red Sox have never been within 20MM of 2010’s payroll, I’m inclined to think Theo will be lowering payroll at least a touch and have 30-35MM to work with, but that’s not enough for 3-4 of those guys (if Ortiz is at 12.5MM).
Edit: Some of the arb-eligible guys in the post are outdated, so add 5MM more to work with, which would be enough for 3, but not all 4 if the Sox pick up Ortiz’s option.
Very good point and something I overlooked. But who knows the Red Sox may go over the luxury tax threshold. The idea last offseason was that this would be a bridge and there were no impact players on the market (Crawford level) who would be of value 3 years later when the farm comes up so there was no reason to sustain a large payroll. I could see them going over the 170mil to get Crawford and Beltre and /maybe/ V-mart based on price or they will take a chance at A-Gonz reaching FA in 2012 (which he should) and go V-Mart over Beltre. But good point, chances of them resigning all of them is low, but I doubt the 6 mil saved by resigning Ortiz would make a huge difference.
Your attempts at cynicism do not speak well of your communications skills. Be that as it may, perhaps the pressure of playing in Boston would be just the ticket needed to get Lars to perform up to his potential. Look at Darnell (who the hell is this guy?) McDonald’s experience. Francona has him batting in the #2 hole, of late! Honestly, ask yourself….aren’t you tired of Papi ruining Sox rallies with one whiff after another at key moments? Its like the guy is living off a talent trust fund, set up, 5 years ago, when he had that one humungus season… He really hasn’t done much since to earn his expensive keep.. that a dozen other guys couldn’t do for half the salary he receives. (.262/28/87)
their best move is to keep ortiz on the 1 year option and become the big fish in the Albert Pujols/Adrian Gonzalez sweepstakes. If the Met’s Ike Davis continues to progress, you can completely cancel them out of the running, giving the red sox, the biggest major market team w/o a defined 1st baseman in the running for both premier free-agents.
Philly – Howard
Yankees – Tex
Dodgers – Loney
Angels – Morales
Cubs – ?
White Sox – ?
Between the Cubs, White Sox and Red Sox, Boston beats all 3 in every possible way. They can offer Al a 300 million dollar contract for 10 years. ( which would incentives for passing 500 HR, 600 HR, 700 HR and breaking the home run record, MVP, triple crown, batting champ, RBI, World Series MVP, Regular season MVP, deferring parts of his contract, etc, etc ).
You’re insane. There is no Pujols sweepstakes. . be realistic, gonzalez, fielder sure, but no chance the sox pick up pujols. keep dreaming
No chance ?
explain to me what do the red sox lack ?
money ?
good team ?
good place for right-handed hitters ?
good lineup ?
vibrant latin community ?
proximity to NYC ?
spotlight ?
I didn’t mean only the sox have no chance, stop getting defensive choir boy.
I meant that Pujols isn’t going anywhere, he will remain a card and everyone knows that
hmmmm…i think alot depends on LaRussa. Supposedly the 2 have had a rocky
relationship. If they re-up on TLR, Albert may fly.
I would LOOOOVE for Albert to come to his true home town of Kansas City and
lead them back to a World Series.
Boston has a vibrant latin community? Really? I’ve been there a few times and all I saw were a bunch of rich white kids with their heads up their asses. Talking in some foreign language (think of bunch of dudes in chaps saying bro a lot) Boston is probably one of the crappier places to live in you have a low tolerance for bs. I vomited. Its a shame, architecturally and street wise, its beautiful.
I live in NYC and go to Boston pretty often. There are TONS of latinos up in
lawrence. ( not that Pujols would ever consider living there ). But in the
outskirts, there are alot of latinos in the area.
I lived in Boston for 10 years.
It sounds like you visited Landsdowne Street and a couple of BC parties.
Jamaica Plain in the southern part of Boston has a massive Dominican, Puerto Rican and Cuban population. Dorchester has a large latino/a population. Somerville and Cambridge both have large latino/a populations, as do many of the surrounding towns.
All of you are making too big of a deal about ‘latin’ communities within boston.. Thats more of an appeal for a new comer to the country, a young FA signing perhaps, like an iglesias, hechavavaria, etc.. but does anyone actually think Pujols would even consider this is in his decision making??
He has 100+ million dollars. Anywhere he goes he’s going to live in a mansion with a 11ft electric fence around his 10 acre lot, his kids will go to the best private school money can buy, and i very much doubt Fat Albert is cruising around in a bentley looking for a drive through taco bell open past 11.
Actually, he probably doesn’t have 100+ million dollars…after all, he’s only made $89m so far…even with endorsements, I’m sure he’s spent quite a bit of what he’s made =P
Kidding aside, good point…the only reasonable “location” excuse I can see is weather/stadium…
How is having Kevin Youkilis not a “defined 1st baseman”?
ummm…not that Youk isnt a defined 1st baseman…but if u can have Youk at
3B AND Pujols at 1B, I think u’d rather go with that.
that was totally an oversight on my part by the way, I completely forgot
Youk played 1B as well.
As well? It’s his primary position =P
Boston beats “all 3” of the Cubs and White Sox? Let’s slow down and learn the small numbers before jumping all the way to 300 million. Did you actually mean 200 million? We’ll never know.
correction:
between all 3 clubs, boston has the best chance.
I think 25 + million a year with enough incentives to hit 30 million a year + options could easily = 300 mil.
I did not mean 300 million guarenteed….
i could see 240 mil guarenteed for 8 years with 2 team options at 25 mil a pop.
Don’t like it. Not one bit. I love Ortiz, but $12.5 million is just too steep at this point.
Yeah like the Sox will have trouble paying that one year deal and will tie up the Sox from signing all those top FAs on the market this year.
Reasins why they’re thinking about doing it.
-Its easer to release ortiz on a 1yr/$12.5 mil if he under performs rather then the 2yr/16-20mil he would comand as a free agent.
-shows the Red Sox are aware that their chances for signing Beltre are dwindiling, and the window for V-Mart is narrowing for that matter.
-Dont asses the current free agent market as favorable to the teams needs.
-lack of power hitters on the major league roster or major league ready power hitting prospects.
As a Sox fan i personally don’t like this given the depth of 1B-DH types in the free agent market, but if they fail to sign atleast one of Beltre/Martinez they will be scroungeing for offense and could wind up with a DH at first which would hinder the right side of the infield defensively.
My moneys on retaining one of Beltre/V-Mart and them tradeing for a a player for the the open position. Not Prince or A-Gone but a lesser players like Aramis ramirez, James Loney, Russell Martin, etc.,(all just speculation given rumors from the last year), given the unlikely hood they will be able to pry away guys with team freindly contracts like A-Gone and Montero, and the potential Health Risk of guys like Prince.
russ martin is a good pick up. Underachiever could excel on a more potent offense
he’s bad. i’d rather have james loney, kemp, either from the dodgers.
2/16-20MM as a FA? 1B/DH market is kinda flooded, so I don’t see Ortiz getting more than a 1/9MM deal max.
He already said he doesn’t want a 1 yr deal. And there is no guarantee Vladdy gets to Free agency (he has an option) Thome is mostly a bench player now, Dunn and Konerko have a chance of resigning, teams will probably have to commit more than 1 year to Pena, and Manny has had heath issues this year. So there are a lot of questions and uncertainty in this FA crop that could give Ortiz (who is coming off a pretty good year) enough leverage to get 2 years, which to Sox don’t want to offer him.
With both Ortiz and Drew struggling vs lefties but still remaining strong vs righties they could be planning on letting Cameron start vs lefties in their stead alternating from RF/DH to keep him and both of othe other older veterans fresh and healthy while maximizing their overall numbers and improving depth.
I do think that the Redsox should and will resign Beltre but should look to trade for a younger and better defensive catcher even if he wouldn’t be an offensive threat like V-Mart.
With Papi, Drew, Papelbon, and Cameron coming off the books after next year they would be in the position to add any of the elite or very good FA bats they want like Gonzalez, Fielder, Bautista, Bartlett, Rollins, Willingham, Ludwick etc or closers like Bell, Capps, Broxton etc.
Terrible move…overpaying for the sake of overpaying. The Red Sox need to have more roster flexibility, and even if they are bring back Ortiz they should play hardball and get a cheaper deal. Also, Ortiz said he would be unhappy if they picked up the option…he won’t create a Manny-like distraction, but this guy does cry when he doesn’t get his way and says dumb stuff. I just don’t get this at all, it seems very unlike Theo. They should cut bait with Varitek, Wakefield, Lowell, Ortiz, and really turn over the roster and the face of the team this offseason.
You don’t think they are trying to do this with all the guys they are developing on the farm? But with a team like this you and with the lack of top FAs the past few years (outside Teixeira and CC who they didn’t need to overpay) keeping these guys as bridges to that farm and still putting out a team that will contend? Sounds likes a pretty good job to me. And I’m pretty sure guys like Lester, Clay, and Pedroia are the faces of this team, not Tek, Wake, and Lowell.
If the Red Sox decline the option and try to sign Ortiz to what market value is for a free agent of his type, it may drag on and on while Ortiz may look to see what else he could find.
To me, that’s not a huge loss if he signs somewhere else as his early season slump helps contribute to the team getting off to a slow start.
You also don’t know with him which early season slump is going to turn into a season long slump.
Being on the hook for 12 million with that risk is not a great place to be.
I’m shocked they are leaning towards picking up his option. All that tells me is they don’t see a viable DH candidate out there and they’ll pay the penalty to stick with the devil they know.
I’m guessing they know Adam Dunn doesn’t want to DH at this point in his career and Victor Martinez won’t come back strictly to DH either.
Martinez makes more money and gets more years under the guise that he’ll be a primary catcher for the bulk of his next contract.
Vladdy might look good in a Red Sox uniform. You’d lose some OBP, but you might gain more consistancy, and speed is about the same :/
The Green Monster could help the power numbers a little more too.
1 year deal worth $8-million with a club option?
The same Vladdy who has hit .247 with 5 HR’s since the ASG…? Not to mention the 44 point difference in BA away from Arlington…. No thanks, I’d rather pay Ortiz his option…
Not to mention he has no protection in a full line-up that has done nothing since the ASG?
Brilliant.
And batting average, really? Why don’t we use counting stats while we’re at it.
Okay, we won’t just use BA…we’ll go by everything — here’s the breakdown for you, since you seem to need it:
PRE | POST
OBP: .364 | .291
OPS: .918 | .656
SLG: .554 | .365
BA: .319 | .247
Must I continue?
Nope, but it’s justified that with the difference of an .893 OPS of Ortiz to a .835 OPS works out for the speculative money figures I randomly threw out there. I just don’t feel that an extra 58 points in OPS is worth $4-million.
I have no argument that Vlad has regressed, never did. My argument is when the whole team regresses [minus Hamilton], you can’t point at one player. Boston theoretically should him more protection, depending on what players they field in 2011.
If they really want to bring back Ortiz, they should decline the option and work on an extension that pays less of a mean.
Having a hitter who swings at every pitch he can reach would make Theo hurl on a daily basis. Not gonna happen.
If Papi will sign for like a $1M base with incentives based on BA and RBI I’m good with it, but if not, let him walk. They also should sign V-Mart to play first and go with Saltlamacchia, Varitek, and Cash at catcher. Cameron needs to be dumped. He’s useless. Trade Ellsbury and Papelbon, sign Crawford and play Kalish in center. Maybe if they feel Iglesias is close to being ready give him a month of platooning with Scutaro and if he does well, keep him up. If not, put him in Pawtucket for a little extra seasoning. Extend Buccholz (4/24), find a taker for Dice-K (doubtful, but it’s worth a shot), and sign someone like Harden for a year or two. Youk can play third, and you have a good lineup. Not scary by any means, but can still do some damage.
That looks like a solid 4th place lineup indeed.
You can’t build contracts based on performance-incentives anyway. They can only based on reaching career milestones, number of plate appearances, games played, innings played, games started, games finished, innings pitched, etc. The current CBA does not allow the language to include RBI’s, batting average, strikeouts, walks, ERA, errors, etc.
I don’t follow the Red Sox very closely; I’m not a fan. Batting average and RBI’s are an awful way to evaluate a player. Also, low balling Ortiz by such an enormous amount is the same as saying that you don’t want him on the team (I think he could get $6MM – $8MM per year guaranteed plus incentives on the open market). It is too early to dump Cameron. He has been injured and might not be next year. Jacoby Ellsbury is also not part of the problem: he’s still relatively cheap and likely won’t get an arbitration raise this year. Papelbon might be untradable after his next arbitration raise, despite his excellent performance. Crawford could be a good signing, but I think that whoever ends up with him will have overpaid. Kalish is young and exciting and is worthy of a long look. Youk might not be a regular 3rd baseman anymore. You could sacrifice a lot of defense by putting him there and he is already productive as far as first basemen go. Resigning Beltre is the way to go.
The Red Sox have a potent lineup already, but have been marred with injuries this year. They are still an excellent team with a deep farm system and shouldn’t need a huge overhaul in the offseason.
You obviously don’t know what you are talking about.
I really can’t think of another team in the MLB that consistently makes as poor decisions as the Red Sox front office. I mean really, come on. They are seriously considering picking up this guys option? While they are at it, Mike Lowell maybe inline for a 2 yr $20mm deal. I believe there is some chatter about them adding a 5th year for $20mm to Beckett’s contract.
Does anyone have any idea what the Red Sox are trying to prove? Are they seriously trying to drop anchor, drill a whole and let that ship sink?
They need to restructure, let players leave and re-develop the team thats on the field. Marco Scutaro and Cameron have both been tremendous flops. Lackey, while he has a pulse, looks completely unfazed by anything. Beckett is just a disaster at the moment. It’s called recapitalization. Not throw more of your capital at the wall.
Woah woah woah, jump off the ledge!
While I know picking up Ortiz’s option is a bold move, I don’t know that it’s necessarily a poor decision.
David Ortiz: .262/.365/.528/.893 with 28 HR’s and 87 RBI’s
Mystery Player: .266/.375/.507/.882 with 30 HR’s and 99 RBI’s
I’d say those guys are fairly comparable, yes? And it should be noted that the mystery player has played in 12 more games than Ortiz…he’ll also make significantly more than Ortiz’s option year next year…who is he?
Also, since when has Scutaro been a flop?
since he has what 20 errors this season and is batting .270. He himself has lost the Red Sox a handful of games.
He’s also played through injury all year. I don’t think the Sox really signed him for his glove, although I do agree he’s been a little disappointing defensively. His ZR is actually better than it was last year.
The Sox really did sign him as a bridge to Iglesias, who will be up by the time Scutaro is gone. He’s given the Sox some stability at SS and has been very clutch. He’s definitely won the Red Sox more games than he’s lost.
Scutaro is putting up exactly .1 lower of a WAR than Derek Jeter and costing his team about a third as much. He’s not exactly an All Star, but he’s FAR from a flop.
HE IS BATTING .270, FOR A SHORTSTOP? Jeez Sox drop him immediately… /sarcasm
Just a wild guess… Is the mystery player Adam Dunn?
Nope!
Arod?
tex… i know its a yankee
Yes!
I’m not trying to devalue Tex though, I know he’s a great player…but my point was that the Sox are not looking for an MVP candidate in Ortiz…they are just trying to match what the Yanks/Rays have in the same slot..if they can do that without giving up prospects, why wouldn’t they? 12.5m is a lot to give to someone who has been as inconsistent as Ortiz has been, and Tex probably has a higher ceiling than Ortiz at this point, but I think the Sox know they won’t come any closer to matching his production without giving up prospects in a trade.
You know.. After being reminded the totally outrageous amounts of money that both Tex and Arod makes and that Arod will be collecting far after he is toast, not to mention the 20-30m the Yanks are going to give Jeter for several years without him ever getting an offer from another team (bidding against themselves once again) then 12.5m for 1 year all of a sudden does not sound so bad, as compared to what wonder boy Cashman always does.
Your “Mystery Player” is four years younger and plays a very good first base on a first place team.
I fail to see your point…so just because he’s younger, he deserves almost twice as much? Since when does age affect the value of a 1 year deal, when the production appears to be the same? I understand Tex is a great player, I never said he wasn’t….but my point was that the Sox may feel they can get comparable OFFENSIVE production from Ortiz, for half the cost (plus keep all their prospects)…Can you honestly say that Tex’s glove is worth 10m+ alone? Again, I fail to see your point.
No glove is worth that today is worth that. But Tex just happens to be arguably the best defensive 1B in the MLB.
Scutaro was acutally a solid signing. He’s hitting well w/ RISP and making battles out of at bats. His defense may be atrocious, but he holds down the position well until Iglesias is ready.
I vomited
Sorry to hear that. Maybe it’s a condition you are used to though.
Ortiz will complain. RS will offer two years at less money. David will ask for the 12.5 op back. They will do it, and cut ties after ’11. He can’t hit LHP anymore but as long as he stays in shape and doesn’t get off to a two-month dreadful start, he’s an acceptable DH for one more year.
Off topic, but I’ve thought for awhile that your Deniro avatar is awesome. Is that him in Casino?
Yes, and I hated that film.
Big mistake.
You overpay Ortiz for one year to avoid giving him a two year deal and you could potentially go out and Sign A-Gonz. No other reasoning.
Or how about this, because some of these posts are laughable. You seem to be afraid of Ortiz dropping off the cliff but would you be more afraid of Ortiz @ 1/12 where if he falls off the cliff you let him walk or 2/12 (He doesn’t want a 1 year deal) where if he falls off the cliff you have him talking up a roster spot in 2012 (I don’t see them dropping him) and still paying him 6mil. Because it may be good to say you’d offer him 1mil + incentives but he won’t take that after this season. Get out of the clouds.
Nail on the head.
I also find it humorous how the same people that can’t understand this are saying the Yankees should sign Jeter for “whatever he wants.” “Give him a 3 year/60m contract…he’s worth more than his production.” “It’s a pure business move.” These are all things I hear when people talk about Jeter resigning an astronomical extension when his recent production doesn’t warrant it.
Ortiz has proven he can still play, especially this year. Is he the same Ortiz of old? No. But he’s still very valuable, especially on a 1 year deal. Freeing up that roster space in 2012 while locking up 1 question mark during this coming off season is well worth the 12.5m.
Calm down… resigning Jeter isn’t your problem or business. Jeter remember, is one of the classiest players in the history in the game. He doesen’t have that big of an ego to say he’s worth more than people make him out to be right now. Resign him to a until he retires w/ the Yankees contract because that’s where he’ll play.
I don’t think I was commenting on what Jeter will do or thinks. If you read anything about his impending free agency, almost every Yankee fan states they should sign him to 20-25m per year till he retires. I was commenting on the people who say that and then turn around and say that 12.5m for 1 year of Ortiz is a waste.
I’d be surprised if they picked up Ortiz’ option. that DH market is loaded and the increased labor supply likely means they can likely pick up comparable production for a fraction of $12.5M guaranteed. Ortiz is maybe somewhat likely to be worth that kind of money next year but is far less likely to be worth significantly more than 12.5 than is he is to be worth significantly less. the upside just isn’t there.
NOOOO theo! Sign ortiz to a 1yr-7-9million deal.
Well if there was good chance that would happen don’t you think they would do that? Common sense people, Ortiz already said he wasn’t going to take a 1 year deal.
Judging by his performance he deserves at least a 2-Year deal or a 1 year deal with an option for a second year or an incentive laden.
Let him walk then! I dare him to find a 2-4yr deal. Don’t be desprate!
I wouldn’t say that if I were you. Of course Ortiz ain’t gonna find that many years on another team, but without his production, the Red Sox wouldn’t be close to where they are right now. Another team could easily reach his agent, and work out a deal. The Sox would be losing a big power threat, and makes the lineup of course marred by injuries look much less potent. You can’t possibly argue with that can you? Or are you just gonna replace him with Jermaine Dye and hope he takes more than one pitch every at bat?
an .889 OPS as a full-time DH in Fenway Park isn’t overly impressive.