David Ortiz Finalizing Two Year Deal

[redsoxfan3]

David Ortiz and the Red Sox are close to finalizing a two year deal.

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox are finalizing the terms of a two-year deal with free agent designated hitter David Ortiz that they hope to announce before the end of the week, according to a baseball source.

The two-year deal -- something that was of utmost importance to the 36-year-old Ortiz -- has already been agreed upon, the source said Tuesday, but the sides are still haggling on compensation.

Ortiz is believed to be seeking a total of $25 million. The Red Sox are in that neighborhood, but hope to sign him for a few million less, according to the source, who noted the monetary negotiations are not expected to get in the way of the deal's completion.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/...medium=twitter

I think this was important. I know some may question his injury, but I think he is going to be a big part of this team next year.

[NativeBostonian]

Thank god. I would have hated it if he went to the Yankees, never mind another team.

[ibot2much]

The Yankees do not need him...they have enough of their own old guys

[VA Sox Fan]

Great news IMO!

F the NYY!

YAY PAPI!

[3rdManOut]

Seems like they are on the right track so far.........for now anyways.

[Behindenemylines]

If its two years at $25 million then that is about right value for Papi who when healthy is still one of the best DHs in the AL.

[VA Sox Fan]

I'm glad they shut him down when they did. He'll be good to go for Spring Training etc....

[ibot2much]

Odd time to make this announcement...on what was John Farrell's day. Bet it did NOT come from the RS FO.....maybe DO's back yard

[Designated Hater]

With David Ortiz coming back, that should be just enough push to the fans from Larry for everyone to buy tickets in December. That's all this is about: the show. Ortiz is breaking down and will absolutely NOT be as productive as he was even a year ago. I think it's a dumb move, but this works for both sides. How many teams really want an aging, injured DH? That position has been recycled (smartly) by most teams to be used as a "day-off" position for guys that need to take a Sunday afternoon and get off the field.

I'm not going to go on a "don't buy tickets" tirade just yet because I don't know what the team is going to look like or what their off-season plans will be to obtain players and shape the 40-man roster.

Right now things look grim as you look at the names that are in place for 2013 and no, I don't like the Ortiz signing.

[jung]

Honestly, while I think it will be a step in the right direction with regard to ticket sales, I don't think the Ortiz signing in and of itself will net the Sox anything like the kind of early ticket sales they have grown accustomed to.

[SoxSport]

So Papi gets his money--and his two years. Looks like his strategy worked. Don't risk further injury. Sit, and collect paychecks.

The question is whether he'll stay in shape and hit next year. Are there safeguards in the contract?

Right now, the media is livid for Valentine suggesting Ortiz "quit". He didn't say that in the interview.
He said he thought he decided the season wasn't worth playing after the Dodger deal. I say he was thinking about next years' contract, and the risk of further injury.

Valentine is an experienced manager with some success--more than Farrell--before he came to Boston. What he encountered in spring training goes to the heart, maybe, of the real problems on the Red Sox--too many years of laissez faire softness with a soft manager and bench coach--after Mills. The players were running the show. That's not Bobby. The guy was doomed to failure on this team. But it was worth it for him--he's $5 million richer.

[ibot2much]

So how much of the money he had signed for to play did he give back?? Anybody see that figure listed anywhere....oh wait....he gave back nothing

[Bellhorn04]

Originally Posted by SoxSport

So Papi gets his money--and his two years. Looks like his strategy worked. Don't risk further injury. Sit, and collect paychecks.

The question is whether he'll stay in shape and hit next year. Are there safeguards in the contract?

Right now, the media is livid for Valentine suggesting Ortiz "quit". He didn't say that in the interview.He said he thought he decided the season wasn't worth playing after the Dodger deal. I say he was thinking about next years' contract, and the risk of further injury.

Valentine is an experienced manager with some success--more than Farrell--before he came to Boston. What he encountered in spring training goes to the heart, maybe, of the real problems on the Red Sox--too many years of laissez faire softness with a soft manager and bench coach--after Mills. The players were running the show. That's not Bobby. The guy was doomed to failure on this team. But it was worth it for him--he's $5 million richer.

You're splitting hairs, I think. Here's what Valentine said. “David Ortiz came back after spending about six weeks on the disabled list, and we thought it was only going to be a week. He got two hits the first two times up, drove in a couple runs. We were off to the races. Then he realized that this trade meant that we’re not going to run this race, and we’re not even going to finish the race properly, and he decided not to play anymore. I think at that time it was all downhill from there.”

Valentine clearly proved he's a flat-out nutjob in the Costas interview. He told Costas that the Middlebrooks episode never occurred, somehow forgetting that he was the one who broke the Middlebrooks story in the first place. What a nutjob.

[NativeBostonian]

Now we need to get someone with power to hit behind him. The Rest of the lineup can be guys who gets on base a lot and also guys who have speed.

[jacksonianmarch]

This apparently was premature. They have agreed on yrs, not on cash