Red Sox extend qualifying offer to David Ortiz

The Boston Red Sox officially extended a qualifying contract offer to free-agent David Ortiz, as first reported by Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Ortiz now has one week to decide whether to accept the qualifying offer.

After accepting arbitration from the Red Sox last year and being forced to play on a one-year deal, Ortiz could decline the qualifying offer in hopes of a multi-year deal. If Ortiz does choose to take that path and signs elsewhere, the 37-year-old's new team would surrender a top draft pick while the Red Sox would then gain an additional draft pick.

By accepting the qualifying offer, Ortiz would be taking a pay cut from the $14.575 million he earned last year, as the qualifying offer is valued at $13.3 million for one-year.

The designated hitter enjoyed one of his better statistical seasons in 2012, batting .318/.415/.611 with 23 home runs and 26 doubles in 383 plate appearances. However, lingering injuries cut Ortiz's season short and only allowed him to play in 90 games.