MLB BUZZ's posts tagged David Ortiz

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• Source: Hearing increasingly likely for Ortiz, Red Sox

  January 31, 2012 by JonPaulMorosi

  The Boston Red Sox and David Ortiz remain far apart in talks about his 2012 contract, making a salary arbitration hearing increasingly likely, one major-league source told FOXSports.com.

  The sides have made little recent progress in negotiations, the source indicated, setting up what could be an uncomfortable hearing for the 36-year-old.

  Ortiz has been one of the most popular and productive Red Sox since joining the organization before the 2003 season. In a hearing – which has been tentatively scheduled for mid-February – he would listen to Red Sox representatives argue why he deserves a $12.65 million salary, rather than the $16.5 million he has requested.

  For now, the sides are allowed to settle at a number between those figures. But once a hearing begins, the arbitrator is obligated to choose one number or the other. The stakes are very high for the Red Sox; if they lose a hearing, they will have $4 million less to spend on upgrading their pitching staff.

  Ortiz was the most productive fulltime designated hitter in the American League last year. He amassed a .953 OPS, making it his best season since 2007, when he finished fourth in the American League MVP voting.

  -- Jon Paul Morosi

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• Big Papi: Next winter's Vlad?

  February 02, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Vladimir Guerrero’s struggles on the free-agent market raise the question:

  What happens next offseason to David Ortiz?

  Both Guerrero and Ortiz are designated hitters. Both turn 36 this year. Both share the same agents, Fern Cuza and Diego Benz.

  Could Ortiz misread the market as badly as Guerrero seemingly has?

  Well, he misread Guerrero’s market, that’s for sure.

  “I guarantee he will go back and play for Texas and get good money,” Ortiz told ESPNBoston.com in November. “You can put that down right now.

  “I’m going to tell you one thing — he’ll get more than one year, too. You wait and see.”

  Guerrero, barring a major surprise, is not going to land a multi-year deal. He also figures to take a significant pay cut from his $6.5 million salary despite coming off a 29-homer, 115-RBI season for the American League champion Rangers.

  The Rangers offered Guerrero a one-year, $8.5 million contract early in the offseason, according to a major-league source. Guerrero, however, rejected the deal.

  The Orioles, the team with seemingly the most current interest in signing Guerrero, are offering him between $3 million and $5 million, sources say.

  Ortiz, too, could have become a free agent this offseason, but the Red Sox exercised his $12.5 million club option. He is coming off an even better season than Guerrero — Ortiz had an .899 OPS, Guerrero an .841. But few DHs in their mid- to late 30s command big money on the open market these days.

  Guerrero, if he had accepted the Rangers’ offer, would have been an exception. Hideki Matsui, 36, signed with the A’s for $4.25 million. Jim Thome, 40, went to the Twins for $3 million. Manny Ramirez, 38, joined the Rays for $2 million.

  Each of those players received only a one-year contract. Guerrero, Ortiz and Bobby Abreu, 36, could join them as free agents next offseason, creating an even more crowded market.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

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