SB Nation Boston - David Ortiz To Remain On Red Sox, Says He's 'Fine With It'https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2010-11-18T11:39:53-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15417642010-11-18T11:39:53-05:002010-11-18T11:39:53-05:00David Ortiz Speaks On One-Year Deal With Red Sox: 'I'm Fine With It'
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jjLHUmtSDznRZQXE-EfmQpii0IU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828103/large_boston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>As David Ortiz celebrates his 35th birthday (we assume) today, he can do it knowing that he's the highest-paid Designated Hitter in baseball by a long, long way.</p>
<p>But that doesn't mean the Boston Red Sox icon is happy with his place. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I was trying to get something different," Ortiz said. "I wanted to stay here longer. But I got what the team offered me, and I'm fine with it.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In speaking with <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&id=5815100">ESPN's Jackie MacMullan</a>, Ortiz said that he's happy that the Red Sox picked up his 2011 option, worth $12.5 million, but doesn't understand the prevailing cloud of doubt that hangs over his head. Ortiz has struggled out of the gate in the past couple years, and many say that it's because of his age. </p>
<p>"I had trouble with the negativity," Ortiz said of his early struggles, but "I'll come back and prove them wrong again."</p>
<p>2011 is Ortiz's last year under contract with the Red Sox. </p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2010/11/18/1822014/david-ortiz-happy-to-be-back-butRyan Durling2010-11-04T13:50:00-04:002010-11-04T13:50:00-04:00Red Sox Exercise Option On David Ortiz For 2011
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jjLHUmtSDznRZQXE-EfmQpii0IU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828103/large_boston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>On Thursday, hours before their midnight deadline, the Red Sox exercised their $12.5 million option on David Ortiz for the 2011 season, the Red Sox <a href="http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101104&content_id=15994580&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos">announced</a>. Ortiz publicly stated last week that he was confident he'd be with Boston in 2011, but also stated that he'll <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2010/10/29/1782275/david-ortiz-boston-red-sox-contract-free-agent-multi-year-deal">want a multi-year deal</a>. </p>
<p>He told <a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/rob-bradford/2010/10/29/why-david-ortiz-wants-more-one-year-deal-red-#disqus_thread">WEEI</a> "I'm not comfortable coming back just for one year because it's going to be the same roller-coaster that I had this year."</p>
<p>The Red Sox still have the opportunity this winter to negotiate a multi-year deal with the slugger, but by exercising his option it assured that for at least the start of the 2011 season, Ortiz will be in a Bosotn uniform. </p>
<p>After a couple of relative down years in 2008 and 2009, Ortiz, who will be 35 in 2011, rebounded with a great 2010: 32 home runs with a .529 slugging percentage and a 137 OPS+ while appearing in 145 games.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2010/11/4/1793851/david-ortiz-red-sox-option-2011Ryan Hudson2010-10-29T15:30:43-04:002010-10-29T15:30:43-04:00David Ortiz Wants Multi-Year Deal
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jjLHUmtSDznRZQXE-EfmQpii0IU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828103/large_boston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><span>David Ortiz</span> <a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/rob-bradford/2010/10/29/why-david-ortiz-wants-more-one-year-deal-red-">told <span class="caps">WEEI.com</span> Friday</a> that he would not be comfortable returning to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> on a one-year deal.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I’m not comfortable coming back just for one year because it’s going to be the same roller-coaster that I had this year. All the question marks. People still don’t realize what you’re capable of doing even after eight years. I’m the kind of guy who likes to be left alone, play my game and be the best at my position.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>After getting off to slow starts for three straight seasons, David Ortiz has come under heavy scrutiny from Red Sox fans, with some even calling for his benching at times. Invariably, though, he has come out of his slumps firing on all cylinders, putting up some of the best numbers in the league.</p>
<p>While the Red Sox do hold a $12.5 million team option for Ortiz in 2011, the slugger wants to avoid the controversy that he feels has hurt his performance these last few years.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I just want to cut out all the crap and go back to the guy I was before, a happy guy who doesn’t have to be answering questions that have nothing to with anything but controversy. I just want to be able to play baseball and have fun, like I used to. That’s where I came back to not wanting just one year, because I know it’s going to be just the same thing. As soon as you struggle for a week, it’s going to be the same thing.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While one would hope that both Red Sox fans and the Boston media would have learned not to give up on Ortiz after a slow start, but given how things have gone in recent years, it’s hard to blame him for wanting some security.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-red-sox/2010/10/29/1782275/david-ortiz-boston-red-sox-contract-free-agent-multi-year-dealBenjamin Buchanan2010-10-29T14:57:26-04:002010-10-29T14:57:26-04:00David Ortiz Confident He'll be With Red Sox In 2011
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jjLHUmtSDznRZQXE-EfmQpii0IU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828103/large_boston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><span>David Ortiz</span> was in attendance for the Celtics' season-opener Tuesday night, and while he was there he took the time to comment on his<a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/10/ortiz_ill_be_wi.html"> future with the Red Sox</a>. Big Papi said that he "was confident he would remain" in Boston, adding, "We're going to talk next week."</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Red Sox</a> have a $12.5 million option for 2011. They have until three days after the World Series ends to decide if they want to pick up the option or not. It's thought that Ortiz wants a multi-year deal with Boston. </p>
<p>According to <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/6804/ortiz-will-talk-with-red-sox-next-week">ESPN Boston</a>, the team is leaning toward picking up the option. </p>
<p>After a couple of relative down years in 2008 and 2009, Ortiz, who will be 35 in 2011, rebounded with a great 2010: 32 home runs with a .529 slugging percentage and a 137 OPS+ while appearing in 145 games. </p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2010/10/29/2323255/david-ortiz-confident-hell-be-with-red-sox-in-2011Ryan Hudson