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/_/id/8542106/david-ortiz-finalizing-deal-boston-red-sox-according-baseball-source?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_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]

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

[SoxFanForsyth]

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

 

Yeah, but from all reports, the money isn't going to keep a deal from happening. Edes reported that the Sox are willing to go 2/$25mm but hope to get him for a few million less.

 

Sorry, Jackso. Your fantasy of Ortiz in a Yankee uniform isn't going to come true.

[Station 13]

It's amazing the last 2 year he had. He creamed lefties. Prior to his injury I thought he had it left in the tank to hit 500HR. he might still but have to play 4-5 year to reach that. I'm not sure if he will play past age 40. A low market team might sign him to get some fans in the seat as he chase 500HR.

[ibot2much]

My belief is that Edes' source was David himself. The Red Sox were involved with the Farrell celebration and with three hours, they are "leaking" the Ortiz signing?? Do NOT think so

[SoxFanForsyth]

My belief is that Edes' source was David himself. The Red Sox were involved with the Farrell celebration and with three hours, they are "leaking" the Ortiz signing?? Do NOT think so

 

Well, Ortiz is up in Boston to work out, so there's that. But my guess is that it would be his agent.

 

One interesting thing is that Middlebrooks is flying up to Boston today. He claims it's to hang out with Ortiz, but would it surprise anyone if Middlebrooks locked in to a 6 year, $28-30mm deal? That'd be very smart on the Red Sox.

[ibot2much]

Well, Ortiz is up in Boston to work out, so there's that. But my guess is that it would be his agent.

 

Agree that it very well could be the agent. The main thing would be to let the fanbase know that DO has cut back on his demands. The $25mil/2 yr was on the table last year and he was not interested at all. Now he is willing to go there.....what a great guy...the RS should snatch him up with a compromise offer like that.

[jung]

Great guy that Ortiz huh...willing to take 2/$25. Boy I'm impressed. I would go 2/$20 if possible and see if Ortiz is "insulted" by that offer. 2/$20 at least gives Ortiz his two years and might make more sense for the Sox than a one year deal.

[Palodios]

Great guy that Ortiz huh...willing to take 2/$25. Boy I'm impressed. I would go 2/$20 if possible and see if Ortiz is "insulted" by that offer. 2/$20 at least gives Ortiz his two years and might make more sense for the Sox than a one year deal.

 

The guy had the highest OPS in baseball last year while on the field. If someone you worked with got paid big contracts anywhere from 4x(Lackey) to 15x (Crawford), and did no work whatsoever, you'd be pretty pissed too.

[jung]

I just never bought that...so the Sox were stupid with regard to signing guys from outta' town that had not proved a thing here. Does that mean that two wrongs should have made a right. Whether Ortiz wants to admit it or not, what the Sox have done in his case (maybe by accident as it is hard to convince yourself that they did much of anything right on purpose) has kept him motivated and has also kept him in gravy the past few years...right in the middle of general decline in attraction for the dedicated DH, Ortiz has earned some really big paydays.

 

I would bet that they do sign him for two years and that the money ends up somewhere between 2/20 and 2/25.

[Bellhorn04]

I just never bought that...so the Sox were stupid with regard to signing guys from outta' town that had not proved a thing here. Does that mean that two wrongs should have made a right. Whether Ortiz wants to admit it or not, what the Sox have done in his case (maybe by accident as it is hard to convince yourself that they did much of anything right on purpose) has kept him motivated and has also kept him in gravy the past few years...right in the middle of general decline in attraction for the dedicated DH, Ortiz has earned some really big paydays.

 

I would bet that they do sign him for two years and that the money ends up somewhere between 2/20 and 2/25.

 

jung, I wonder if this is one of those statements that we hear so often that we just start accepting it as fact without questioning it any more.

 

I think maybe the whole notion of teams no longer being willing to pay big bucks to DH's came from the relatively small dough Vlad Guerrero got his last 2 seasons in the bigs.

 

But consider these signings as well:

 

Adam Dunn 4 years 56 million. We all know Dunn is a horrible fielder. About 2/3 of his starts for the White Sox have been at DH, the rest at 1B except for a handful in the OF.

 

VMart 4 years 50 million. In his first season with the Tigers VMart had 112 starts at DH, and 32 at catcher or 1B. Yes, his ability to catch gives extra value, but he's not considered to be a good defensive catcher, and all this really does is eliminate the need for a BUC, which are cheap commodities anyway.

[Palodios]

 

Adam Dunn 4 years 56 million. We all know Dunn is a horrible fielder. About 2/3 of his starts for the White Sox have been at DH, the rest at 1B except for a handful in the OF.

 

VMart 4 years 50 million. In his first season with the Tigers VMart had 112 starts at DH, and 32 at catcher or 1B. Yes, his ability to catch gives extra value, but he's not considered to be a good defensive catcher, and all this really does is eliminate the need for a BUC, which are cheap commodities anyway.

 

I don't think the Tigers knew what a talent Avila was when they signed Victor Martinez.

 

There is extra value in players with versatility, and players at 30 are much more expensive than ones at 36. There are also 16 additional teams bidding for first basemen.

[jung]

Well lets see....it took ten years and exile to another country for MLB to forget enough about how bad it can be with V at the helm for V to get the Sox job. Would V be interested in being a manager again at 72? Do they play baseball in Iceland?

[InfernoOrangeSS]

I hope they get this done soon. I'd like to see DO finish his career in Boston.

[jung]

There is one factor in the whole Ortiz negotiation, two years vs one year etc that might actually be relevant that nobody talks about.

 

Now I totally understand the argument that the Sox might not need to throw two years out on the table for Ortiz because the market for a 37 year old, dedicated DH with a spotty achilles is going to be pretty light. But I don't think it is completely out of the realm that somebody else gives him his two years.....I think it boils down to the difference between a one year deal at max $$ and a two year deal at a number that is attractive to both parties....maybe 2/$20 is that number.

 

The one thing I don't see mentioned is that the Sox actually have two players that you might want to be mindful of in this regard, one is obviously Ortiz and the other is Pedroia. Is it really worth it to the Sox to show a guy like Pedroia, who has not cost the Sox a fortune, who is the player they are building around that at the end of his career, they will very likely reward him for nothing? That they might very well base their offer to him entirely on his market value to another team. I don't think I would want to lay the groundwork in Ortiz for that sort of thought process to leak into Pedey's thinking.

 

As long as the price per year takes this two year deal into account and provides the Sox with a meaningful difference in $$ per year, I think it may just serve the Sox purposes to go ahead and do Ortiz for two years.

 

I heard today that Wes Welker has put his Boston Condo on the market. Wonder if he is fed up with the way the Pats have handled him and if he is just preparing for the day when he gets outta' here.

[ibot2much]

If the Sox were determined that they NOT give him two years last year, why would they do so when he has the injury and he is getting older...does not make sense?

 

That is why I think DO has put it out there that he will take what he supposedly did not want last year..the decrease in salary for two years. We do not know what the RS have offered

[jung]

The current media story is that the Sox have agreed to two years but have not finalize the amount yet. In addition, somebody I guess from the Ortiz camp has leaked that he would take 2/$25 which is as much as admitting that he will take less than $25M.

 

I don't think the Sox will drive the number below 2/$20 and if they do then that would look like a pretty big win for them. For example 2/$18 for a guy they were paying $14 for one year would be a huge win I think....2/$20 would still be a win for the Sox I think.

 

I think what has changed is that there seems to be a rumor out there that Ortiz can get two years from somebody. Remember the Sox really took the issue off line last year by using Arbitration which was still available to them on Ortiz last year. The Sox could tell Ortiz to go test the market and tell us what you have been offered...we will match it or not but I just don't think the Sox think it worthwhile to go down that road IF, they can get a two year number that works for them.