David Ortiz signing: Slugger to remain with Boston Red Sox

Free agent designated hitter/first baseman David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms on a $26 million contract, as first reported by WEEI.com, that will keep the slugger in a Red Sox uniform for two more years.

David Ortiz could earn an additional $4 million over the life of the contract, according to Bradford, through contract incentives.

Reports of the signing come not long after the Red Sox extended Ortiz a qualifying contract offer, which would have given Boston draft pick compensation if Ortiz declined and decided to sign elsewhere. Of course, Ortiz could have accepted the offer, but he would have then been settling for less than he earned in 2012 and without security of a multi-year pact.

At 37 years of age, Ortiz was on his way to having one of his best statistical seasons, batting .318/.415/.611 with 23 home runs and 26 doubles in 383 plate appearances. However, lingering injuries limited the slugger to just 90 games, Ortiz's lowest total since 2002 when he was with the Minnesota Twins.

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