A provocative Instagram post from David Ortiz following news of the trade of Chris Sale to Boston yesterday had some Red Sox fans wondering if their team planned to talk the retired slugger into returning for 2017. But the team has no such plans, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal writes.
“My boy Sale to Btown? You guys got me thinking,” Ortiz wrote on Instagram yesterday.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says he thinks Ortiz was joking, and adds that the team will not initiate talks designed to lead to his return. “I wouldn’t want to reach out to him,” says Dombrowski. “I know David well enough — and I know that if he really had sincere interest, that he would call.”
MacPherson notes that, regardless of Ortiz’s intentions, he cannot come off the voluntary retired list for the first 60 days of the season. It’s easy to see why Red Sox fans would have interest in his return, however — the Red Sox have had a high-profile offseason without making a high-profile acquisition to fill Ortiz’s spot in the lineup (although they did add Mitch Moreland earlier this week). Ortiz departed last season at the top of his game, having batted .315/.401/.620 while leading the AL or tying for the AL lead in doubles, RBIs, slugging percentage and OPS in 2016.
Retirement Tour 2: This Time I’m Serious
With the great last yr he had he shouldn’t have even retired yet !
Why is this news? Hes retired… just go off into the sun set lol…
It’s news if he was fantastic last year and could be again this year
Way to make something about yourself, Papi.
Really?? You really think he was serious?? Ever heard of trolling?? Everyone including the media fell for it hook, line and sinker. Bless your little naive heart
Lol^
It’s David Ortiz he don’t troll
Oh god if he’s actually serious which I doubt he is I’d never want to see a retirement tour from anybody ever again
Roger clemons , 8th times a charm.
That’s his sense of humor.
It feels like Ortiz wants DD to call and ask doesn’t it? He’s in the clubhouse working out. He drops hints like “if someone offered $25 mil, how can I say no?” He drops hints on twitter. Dave, call and tell him the Sox want him back in July. Feels like DD just doesn’t want to ask. What’s next? David Ortiz shows up to Fort Myers and jumps in the batting cage? Asking Farrell on twitter what number he’s hitting in the lineup?
If he wanted to, he would.
GG Red Sox
#BringBackPapi
I wonder if he called Bret Farve and asked him for advice
I wonder if he took advice from Bret Farve…. heh
Bring him back in at July trade deadline for run in and post season. With 6 months rest he could be awesome Aug-Oct!
I wonder if that may actually be in play.
It would be great for bosox fans, but please, all of us on the left coast are sick of him. Stay retired. You had a great career.
Guess he wasn’t getting enough attention
You mad??
Relax. He was just joking. He was asked the question last weekend…
Scott Lauber
ESPN Staff Writer
David Ortiz isn’t surprised Red Sox haven’t tried to talk him into playing one more year. “I made myself clear. It’s not about the money. It’s how you feel. I’m old, man”.
He’s done. Wish he wasn’t, but wish him the best..
I still cant believe they didnt sign Beltran after losing Ortiz. Seemed like the most logical fit out there, in terms of any offseason moves. It would be awesome if he did come back. It just felt like such an anticlimactic ending to such a great season, and obviously his career. After adding Sale, it would have been cool to see what they could do this year for Papi, had he come back for another season. They’re already paying him. Why not come back? (unless he is satisfied, which is absolutely fair for him. I just think the teases make it seem like he isnt satisfied)
If he came back – would he get another ridiculous season-long farewell tour? That would be hilarious.
Enough people hate him as it is, what’s a few more?
Not as many as those that adore him. Sit on your thumb and indulge your hate while he gets voted into Cooperstown.
Where did I say I hate him?
Forever happy this clown is out of the sport. Always hated him after the whole “PED users should be banned for life” comment. He’s always been about himself and his own glory. Just like this b.s.
If you get the big tour (which I 100% believe he deserved since he has been such a huge face of baseball), you should just sort of stay in retirement. If not, they serve no purpose and lose the fun and special meaning. He’s a great player and I was stoked to see him go out with a bang.
these guys dont ask for the tour. They have the respect of the rest of baseball, and therefore are shown that respect b/c other teams feel like there wont be another chance.to show their appreciation. If he wants to come back, he should come back. At the end of your life, you dont want to have regrets, and it doesnt matter what some salty people feel about if you stayed retired or not
In other news the Giants don’t plan on trading Buster Posey for a “player to be named later”.
This is such a ridiculous story.
I could see Papi being added to the 40 man roster 0n Aug. 31 to make him elig. for the playoffs ala Schwarber.
Red Sox really don’t want this Guy to come Back , they know he was on the Juice and Might get Busted the second time.
I can’t imagine why he would want to come back. He had a terrific final season, he’s made plenty of money, MLB is falling all over themselves to treat him like a prince, and in Boston he’s a can-do-no-wrong idol. The Red Sox are spending a lot–would an Ortiz re=signing effect their luxury tax calculations? It wouldn’t surprise me if the FO is satisfied with his retirement, and would like it to stay that way.
Don’t mess with the baseball gods. Can come back to bite you
The Red Sox already agreed to pay him his contract option for this year