General Manager Ben Cherington confirmed to reporters that the Red Sox have begun contract talks with both David Ortiz and Cody Ross, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald (via Twitter). Both players are set to hit the open market after this season.
Ortiz has made it clear that he is looking for a two-year deal this offseason, but isn't seeking anything longer than that. In the slugger's view, a two-year pact will allow him to avoid questions about his contract status in the 2013 and would mark a sign of respect from the organization. The soon-to-be 37-year-old earned his eighth All-Star selection this season, hitting .318/.415/.611 with 23 homers.
Ross, 31, says that his top priority this offseason will be signing with a contender. The Red Sox picked up the outfielder on a one-year, $3MM deal last winter and figures to see a significant bump in pay and contract length this time around.
I guess that’s a “no” on the full rebuild, then.
Not really. They are both free agents so it’s not like the Sox could trade them to gain any prospects, and signing two guys on short term deals doesn’t affect their rebuilding process at all. It means they are going to try not to stink next year, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t rebuilding.
And these two players it wouldn’t be good to offer the qualifying offer to. Only thing that it would affect is the draft order, but they will make alot more money if they bring ortiz and ross back for the fans.
Yes I refuse to watch a lineup with 5 guys with averages below the mendoza line and a combined 15 homerruns on the season.
They would both likely accept a $13.4 million qualifying offer since Ross is not likely to get that on a annual basis on the open market and Ortiz may only want to play one more year.
Number one priority is signing with a contender? I guess that rules out Boston
Who cares what he wants? We certainly can’t promise him how the roster is gonna look like come April 2013. And if he gets a nice sketchy 3 year deal, he’ll forget about that “contender thing”
I am ok by re-signing both. But not on their terms, forget it. Ortiz either gets an expensive 1 year deal or he takes a paycut for 2.
Ross should be overpaid if he accepts 2 years instead of 3.
Get it done, Ben.
Don’t really see how Ross views them as contenders. Sure it was attractive to remove that much salary in one time, but they traded one of the best 1B in the game, a solid LF, and their #2 starter. They can probably mostly fill the hole from cc, and sign greinke as a starter, but who is going to fill the void at 1st. Sure they can improve, but they still have a climb to get back to the team that they even were this year, after trading youk, beckett, cc, agon.
Beckett was horrednous this year, crawford had done nothing, and gonzo wasnt worth keeping all three around. This team has a solid farm system that is almost ready for the bigs. Maybe 2013 they are only an 85 win team but by 2014 with the right moves (resign ross, ortiz, solidfy pitching) they could be a 95 win team again. that is why he would view them as a contendor. And the fact they will give him a good contract.
Doubt they get 85 wins next year. With Beckett sub 3.00 era and mvp canidate a-gon they only won 90 wins in 2011. In 2011 they were the best hitter/pitcher on the redsox. They may have underperformed this year, but it still sets them back alot. I think between losing those 2 and Papelbon then you are subtracting way more than 5 wins.
lackey was atrocious in 2011 which canceled out becketts performance. The bullpen other than the position of closer has improved since 2011. And while the lineup has taken a step back, through the right moves could be enough for an 85 win team.
Rotation of Buch, Lackey, Doubront, and Lester so far. All of them had an era over 4.50 in the most recent season they pitched.
Don’t see Ortiz getting a 2 year deal from anyone. I can see him being attractive to other teams, but he will be 37 before the year is over. Depends what the sox want to pay, I could see him easily getting $11M from a team that really needs a DH.
No news really guys. Ross himself confirmed (WeEI) 2 weeks ago that Boston had already begun extension talks with him and his agent.
Ross said then he preferred to stay once again.
Get Ross and Ortiz to a 3- and 2-year deal, respectively. Solidify the lineup somewhat. Do it, Ben.
I love you, Cody Ross.
Ross the Boss lol
David Ortiz would look might good in Blue Jay colors..
Cody Ross must go, 20+ homers so what!, more SO than Hits, a bunch of SF (sacrifice flyes) and a so-so deffence, SF Giants got rid off him for low offensive production, with the Sox stats this year, his stats appears as huge, and with that line-up he is Miguel Cabrera. He and Saltalamacchia strikeout very often with man on base. Bring the Triple A outfielders Bradley Jr. and Brentz. Aviles is an utility not an everyday player, Ross in a 4th outfielder that hits against weak lefties and with those catchers, Iglesias, Nava and Loney Red Sox don’t go anywhere
Bradley Jr and brentz are a year (at least) away and brentz is probably a 4th OF anyway, who has extremely poor plate discipline and a 4-1 K-BB ratio in MiLB.
Dwight Evans is now 60YO, it’s not like they can bring him out of 23Y retirement to anchor RF and give them A-1 offense and GG defense at RF.. Ross, at 8-10m AAV over 2, maybe 3 years is a decent sign to bridge the gap for bradley and possibly Jacobs and others lower down.
do not want
Wow, I thought I was the only one. I would like to pass on both! Total rebuild time!
Why total rebuild? That would waste the team friendly contracts of Pedroia, Middlebrooks, Lester, Clay, Doubront, Bailey, and all these other guys. 2014 the next wave of propsects is coming up. I would rather have them be supplements to a a good team then have to be saviors. Resign Ross and Ortiz because they will be team short term not big commitments. Then try to find pitchers that will be short term and not big commitments and wont cost draft picks. However, an exception should be made for Haren I think. That would be the best way for the Sox to keep payroll flexibility, a competitive team, and not lose fans.
Should have said need a fresh start, not total rebuild. I would trade lester for specs, I would not sign Ross who is a platoon player and not the best outside of fenway! Ortiz is very likely going to be injury prone at this point in his career.
It is time to move on. We should look into trades and FA. We can still field a competitive team without those guys and start building toward the future.
We need to get younger, Ortiz has seen his best days and I have never been high on Ross.
I understand the fresh start and trying to get younger. However, there is no one that will replace the production we got from Ortiz next year on a better contract. There is also no reason to trade lester when his value is so low. Ross is a fan favorite who bats for power from the right side and can be had on a relativly cheap deal. If we could get Upton and let him go Im all for it if the prospects aren’t bradley, barnes, or bogartes. But right now there is no clear talent upgrade over him that wont cost our top propsects. One interesting situation would be trading
Look at it this way, throw Ross and Ortiz up on the chalkboard with all of the other free agents. Who would you want? Both of them look strong in a week class and both have had some success. They have a lot of holes to fill. Also, without Papi they’d likely grab a much weaker hitter to DH.
thought ross wants to play for a contendor. that definetly leaves out resigning with the red sox
I think any team in the entire AL would consider him in some form or other, aside from the CWS, and DET. He still is a very good hitter, and someone will only offer the 2 years if it is to lure him away from boston. I think someone will be more likely to give a higher salary 1 year deal than a 2 year one.
Why I said every team would be interested in him in one form or other. The rays and A’s probably can’t afford him, but they would still have interest. I definetely think his options are open and that boston isnt the only place he could sign. This gives him some leverage.