David Ortiz recently hinted that the offseason could get even more tumultuous for the Red Sox. The designated hitter, who will be eligible for free agency after the World Series, suggested to ESPN's Colleen Dominguez that he would fit into the Yankees’ culture.
"It's great from what I hear," he said. "It's a good situation to be involved in. Who doesn't want to be involved in a great situation where everything goes the right way?”
Ortiz says there's "too much drama" in Boston these days and acknowledged that he's thinking about moving on. “I don't know if I want to be part of this drama for next year."
Ortiz projects as a Type A free agent, which means teams will have to surrender a top pick to sign him if he turns down an offer of arbitration from the Red Sox. The 35-year-old completed his ninth season in Boston with 29 home runs and a .309/.398/.554 line.
The Yankees don't need a designated hitter this offseason. Alex Rodriguez and Jesus Montero could DH on a semi-regular basis and manager Joe Girardi could also use the spot to provide tired or banged up players with a partial day off.
Ron Murphy
get rid of the bum
chico65
Just when you think it can’t get any worse- Papi pining for the Yankees. What’s next, Wally too?
Infield Fly
Somehow I expected this from ‘ Papi. To me it’s about any leverage he can get. However if he sincerely does think there’s “too much drama” in Beantown, then (from what I’ve heard) he might wanna take a liiiiiittle peep in the mirror…
Rabbitov
Papi is to Baseball as Jay Cutler is to football.
NickinIthaca
What does that look like as a logic equation again?
Big Papi:Baseball::Jay Cutler:Football?
I’ve been out of school too long
chico65
You mean an analogy?
Rabbitov
In the end it had something to do with crying. I think its probably too convoluted, and not me at my best.
David
As much as I hate the Red Sox as a baseball fan I respect David Ortiz and his attitude. I just don’t see a place for him on the Yankees. The article is right, the Yankees are an older team and Girardi likes using the DH spot to give a partial day off. If they trade Montero, and I hope they don’t Arod will be DH some games, Jeter will DH as Nunez earned the right to get playing time.
ahmad
Lol at Nunez earning anything
mikhelb
Well, he batted 0.380+ when Jeter was not playing, and 0.280+ when he replaced ARod, so yes, he earned his place offensively; though his fielding needs work as he commited a lot of errors.
notsureifsrs
batting average, that’s cute. or it would be if he even had that going for him
by month:
.225 (15 games)
.226 (20 games)
.333 (20 games)
.254 (21 games)
.250 (19 games)
good thing you didn’t look at any better measures, then he’d really break your heart
Kevin McCaul
Well I hate his attitude. He’s been complaining all season about his contract, he’s hardly been accountable for the collapse, and he threw his manager under the bus.
No thanks, the Yankees don’t need that in the club house – never mind over paying for his production.
Ryan
Ortiz – PEDs = Tony Clark
Ferrariman
he isn’t on PED’s right now is he?
Mario Saavedra
Don’t be ridiculous. David Ortiz can’t switch hit.
Zeppelin5083
So that’s why he went on that hugging campaign…
FS54 2
Francona, followed by Epstein, and now Ortiz. I wonder what drama these people are so tired of.
YankeePhan1234
They aren’t tired of anything, any chance people in the Media get to try and illicit a response from a major public figure they do it, its basically glorified trolling.
kyrnan
really??? so, given the recent reports of what went on in the clubhouse you can’t fathom why anyone would want to leave? major denial.
Boz
with quotes like “I don’t know if I want to be part of this drama for next year.” it doesnt look like glorified trolling to me
Highrow Corpuz
Hes gunna make more drama by going to his rival team
Shu13
Or Lackey is tearing apart the clubhouse….w/ his beer drinking and fried chicken eating and video game playing during the games….hahaha
Jon Carrier
Anybody who doesn’t want to fight for the Red Sox, and wants to run away when times are tough, especially a guy who has been given as much by the fans as Ortiz I say screw him. Goodbye, have fun on the Orielles.
Jon Stark
I am not sure that it was the “tough” times (i.e., losing) that he wants to get away from. It sounds more like the clubhouse and media drama.
Encarnacion's Parrot
A little bitter perhaps? The guy does so much charity work, and helped Boston win 2 World Series.
There’s shyte going down in Boston. Like a true fan, suck it up. Ortiz owes you nothing, and I’d love him to be the DH of the Jays in 2012.
John Goncalves
Charity work is off the field stuff.. Red Sox fans or anybody else can’t hate him for that. Red Sox Nation loves him for helping win 2 World Series…. BUT, after saying the things he said.. it’s time for him to move on. He says he’s not sure if he wants to be part of the drama next year? He was PART of the drama this year.. crying about an RBI, questioning managerial moves, not being a clubhouse leader as a veteran and a veteran of the team. It’s easy to give up and say I don’t want to be part of this drama next year, meanwhile during the season he’s wondering where his 2 year deal from the Red Sox is, give me a break.. then to say what he said concerning the Yankees… good bye Ortiz
Encarnacion's Parrot
Speaking of drama..
Jon Carrier
Well said. Let’s see how well he does in a ballpark that isn’t Fenway or Yankee Stadium.
We can survive without his bat. Our biggest issue is clubhouse attitude and he’s clearly not part of the solution.
mikhelb
I hope that every bosox fan who thinks like you do, won’t boo him when he shows up in another uniform, specially if it is a Yankees uniform.
Jon Carrier
I don’t care what he did for Boston, winning 2 Championships is what he was paid to do.
How many other DH’s got a 12 Mil contract?
The front office AND fans has given more to Papi then most baseball players. He’s in debt, not the other way around.
chico65
Who the hell are the Orielles?
mikhelb
They’re a team that plays in Balitimoure.
sourbob
“_____[Player A]____, who enters free agency without much leverage, suggests the Yankees might want him.” I’ve seen this movie before.
0bsessions
Good luck to him. As noted in the article, there’s absolutely zero chance the Yankees sign Ortiz unless Cashman’s shown the door and Randy Levine takes over.
That said, either way I’m cool. I like Ortiz and would love for him to stick around, but for one or two years TOPS. If he wants out, I’m content to try out Lavarnway and collect draft picks for Ortiz. It’s not the ideal solution, but our offense will be fine with a bit of a DH downgrade. Heck, maybe even Middlebrooks sticks and is able to come up after the ASB and move Youk to DH full time. Either way, I can give or take Ortiz at this point in his career.
Tired_OF_FakeRumors
the orioles, mariners and A’s should be all over him.
0bsessions
Lefty with good plate discipline and power? Good fit there, but I’m not sure his shelf life will extend to them being competetive again. I can conceive them being competetive in the lifetime of Felix’s contract, but Ortiz has one, MAYBE two years left on him by my guess.
jwsox
Depends on how the steroids harmed his body. This isn’t a jab either. Roids have a habit of sneaking up on you and suddenly destroying your body. It is funny that he was one of the strongest voices against roids, saying “they” should all be kicked out of baseball and then it comes out that he was using while the bosox were winning two world series. Yet for some reason everyone gives arod more crap about using while in Texas for one year.
0bsessions
I think you’re missing a bit of info. Now, I won’t go into the semantics of whether he was using PEDs or not, but last I heard, what “came out” was that Ortiz tested positive for something prior to the current policy (Which means at most recent, he tested positive in 2004, not 2007, suspensions came into play in 2006 and he would’ve been suspended had he been juicing for the ’07 WS). Now, no one’s ever released conclusively what he did and there’s debate over whether it was a PED, a banned substance in a supplement or potentially even just drugs like pot. No conclusion was ever reached on what it was and according to ortiz, the MLB wouldn’t tell him what he tested positive for.
So, worst case scenario, he was juicing for 2004, but there’s absolutely nothing indicating he was using when they won in 2007.
mikhelb
You are not saying something there: suspensions were lifted for the end of 2003 and for the 2004 season if somebody tested positive; that’s why the Mitchell Report seemed like a good indicator at the time, but later we discovered that at least the two biggest names in the bosox were protected by Mitchell (he worked at the Bosox front office). And remember what Merloni said about a steroid culture in the boston clubhouse, when the front office sent doctors to teach them how to beat the steroids tests, but he had to recant or risk losing his job at WEEI.
0bsessions
I don’t see how any of this refutes what I said. I’m not arguing one way or the other what Ortiz may or may not have done prior to suspensions for testing (Though I should note, Merloni’s not the best source for someone like Ortiz, they were on the squad together for, what, a month?).
What I’m debating is the idea of Ortiz using in 2007 (Which is a remote possibility, but no more so than any other player having used in 2007) because there is absolutely nothing out there indicating he did. The positive test was from ’03/’04.
Jon Carrier
He’ll love being offered $6 mil to play for those teams. I’d love to see him play at Safeco field.
mikhelb
Three of the places where he doesn’t hit as good in his career LOL
Seattle 0.125 AVG / 14 HR / 55 RBI / 85 games
Oakland 0.223 AVG /
7 HR / 24 RBI / 49 games
Baltimore 0.278 AVG / 12 HR / 31 RBI / 52 games
New Yankee Stadium 0.257 AVG / 6 HR / 17 RBI / 27 games
Tired_OF_FakeRumors
didnt know that but still those teams should go after him. Specially the orioles and that bandbox
Jon Stark
I hope fans don’t now turn on him too.
notsureifsrs
i’m not going to “turn on him” any more now than i did when he burst into francona’s press conference to complain about being robbed of an RBI by the scorer
he contributed a lot and for a long time was a positive presence in the clubhouse. that went away apparently, and so did his hitting until adrian gonzalez mentored him
thanks for the draft picks and good luck
BoSoxSam
Ortiz hit just fine last year, before A-Gon showed up.
notsureifsrs
right, just fine. after a year of hitting just average. and then a-gon showed up and he returned to hitting great. and if you asked him why, as many did, he’d have told you it was because of gonzalez
BoSoxSam
Okay, but then it sounds like his hitting wouldn’t be an issue for Boston, as he’ll still have A-Gon to mentor him next year. Not sure what the point is there.
notsureifsrs
imo boston is more valuable to him than he is to boston. i like him alright, but i don’t care if he leaves
mikhelb
Ortíz never said that Adrián González mentored him, he said that González provided the protection he once had with Manny.
Ferrariman
it seems a bit counter intuitive for Agonz be mentoring Papi when Papi is older and with more experience and world series rings.
gradylittle
Talk about bad timing. I’d love to see him back but it’s not like he’s not replaceable. DH will be the PERFECT spot for Youk right about now..
BoSoxSam
Too bad Youk will probably whine constantly if he was made DH. I gotta say, after his continuous comments about Ellsbury, and with his open complaints about DHing even when it’s clear he can barely move around at third, I’m not a huge fan of his attitude. At least Papi can be upbeat.
chico65
…and I can win the next megamillions drawing, but it isn’t likely. There’s so much bad mojo flowing it might take them years to recover from this.
gradylittle
Youk will whine about anything regardless.
BoSoxSam
Kinda why when the Youk trade rumors popped up, I was okay with the possibility of him leaving. Attitude-wise, I’d prefer Ortiz continue DHing for a year or two before Lavarnway or someone takes the spot, rather than have Youk there grumbling all the way.
gradylittle
I’ve even heard Middlebrooks name pop up as a Youk replacement but that just seems immature.
disgustipated85
He would fit right in with the Yankees. He and A-Roid can do Performance enhancing drugs together.
jwsox
Then Pettit will come back and andru jones will resign for one year.
mikhelb
They would need to convince George Mitchell to protect them, and sign the same doctors that Merloni said the sox owners sent to teach players about how to ‘roid’ properly… oh oh oh, and sign Manny and those guys who sold drugs in Fenway park.
East Coast Bias
then get busted for pregnancy pills hahaa
BoSoxSam
I don’t care about Ortiz saying he’d fit in with the Yankees, I’m just pissed that the reporter gave him such a baited question. As this article and all commenters are noting, he wouldn’t fit on the Yankees AT ALL. They’ve got no place to bring in another aging slugger who can’t field. She just brought it up so that we’d have more controversy.
rundmc1981
“I’m just pissed that the reporter gave him such a baited question”…that’s their job…to set-up soundbites for people, like Big Papi, that love to hear themselves talk and will tell you exactly what you want to hear. Why blame reporters for athletes that have no filters when their agent isn’t there?
John DiRienzo
let me pose a question: what’s the point of asking Ortiz about NYY when they have 0.000001% chance of even being interested in him? why not ask him about his offseason plans or about a more feasible team?
i obviously blame Ortiz for his “poor” choice of words (won’t hate the guy for being honest, but it wasn’t the best thing to do if he wants to save face) but this was clearly just for the controversy. and i blame the reporter for that. after all, it’s the news, not a big gossip circle.
then again, that’s what the news has become.
BoSoxSam
Yes, their job is to get memorable quotes, and I’m not defending what Ortiz said. I’m just saying it’s disappointing to me that every Yankee/Red Sox FA must be asked that stupid question, regardless of whether it makes baseball sense or not. Basically, if a reporter will ask Ortiz if he might go to the Yankees when it’s clear there is no spot for him there, I can’t trust any of their other questions as it’s clear they have little to knowledge of what’s actually going on in the game. Either that or they’re pretending to be ignorant so they can get a juicy soundbite, which is just as bad. Just because it’s their job doesn’t mean I should be fine with them asking those kinds of questions.
mikhelb
You should know that a lot of times players tell the reporter (specially on a one-on-one interview) what he wants to be asked, so he can give an answer that can help him in something, in this case, to try and get leverage with the sox.
Lucy
Reporters always ask FA’s from the Yankees or Red Sox if they would sign with their rivals. Jeter was asked the same question last year. Even the GM has already been asked this year: “I have a job.” The Sox teased Rivera last year with an offer before he re-signed. And you are correct:it was an effort to spark controversy. It worked.
mikhelb
It is only a baited question if the player answers what the reported wants to hear; Ortíz previusly said he didn’t want to be questioned about redsoxcalipse but he is willing to talk about NY? that goes to show you that he will only answer questions that can help him.
Alex Grady
Ortiz and A-rod would make a pretty good DH platoon.
MB923
This was an interview and a reporter simply asked him if he’d go to the Yankees and he said yes. It’s an interesting story nonetheless, but it was only in an interview from an ESPN LA reporter lol
The only thing you will hear Cashman say about this (assuming he goes back to the Yankees) would be “Can he pitch?”
notsureifsrs
yes, he can. that’s most of what he does lately in fact
oh, pitch? with a p? no, probably not
East Coast Bias
hahaha I hope this doesn’t go over too many people’s heads.
John DiRienzo
yeah, some of the people on here probably won’t realize that notsureifsrs is talking about Ortiz DITCHING his team!
/sarcasm
mikhelb
LOL well played sir, well played.
Slopeboy
Actually, what you’ll hear from Cashman is- ” Can he pitch as well as Freddy and Bartolo?”
edward lim
David Ortiz, A Rod and Derek Jeter would make the Yankees the best team in the league.
rundmc1981
And the gimpiest.
BoSoxSam
I think -just- the gimpiest.
0bsessions
Circa 2005? Sure. They’re all star power players, but every last one of them is on the downward hill of their careers.
Rick Garcia
and they still lost in the first round this year with at least 3 other players in their lineup better or just as good as Ortiz.
Yankees don’t need him and honestly neither does Boston. Send him somewhere west like Oakland, Seattle or maybe Houston if they actually move to the AL
0bsessions
“and they still lost in the first round this year with at least 3 other players in their lineup better or just as good as Ortiz.”
Eh, that’s entirely dependent upon one’s emphasis on defensive value. While not having a position, Ortiz did have the fourth best wOBA and OPS in the AL and he out-OPSed the best Yankee hitter (Granderson) by almost forty points.
Sure, the Yankees don’t “need” him, but he would be a phenomenal DH option for the Yankees if not for how crowded the position is for them already. Honestly, he’ll probably outperform whoever they put there next year, but the multiple year commitment he’ll want will outshine his immediate performance. If he wants out of Boston as badly as people are claiming and the Yanks trade Montero for pitching, Ortiz honestly wouldn’t be their worst option.
mikhelb
Really? the highest average in the Yankees was lower than what Ortíz batted, they were not even picked to go to the playoffs….
mikhelb
Only if Jeter again bats 0.380 from July-September.
Billy
Now we get to hear the Red Sox publicly tear David Ortiz apart. Seems like thats what they do to anyone who thinks about leaving that organization.
John DiRienzo
and then we get to hear a bunch of random people talking crap about the Red Sox management like they are the second coming of the Axis
oh wait
mikhelb
And we’ll have to endure the occasional guy who defends the redsox management for their actions…
wickedkevin
“You had guys like Pedro Martinez before him[Tito]. We had Manny Ramirez. We
had Johnny Damon we had to take personal rips on. Before Johnny, before
Manny, then you’ve got Derek Lowe. Then you have myself. Then there was
Mo Vaughn, And then there was Roger Clemens. And then there was Jim
Rice. And then there was Carl Yastrzemski. And then there’s a guy by the
name of Ted Williams. There is a distinguished list here that goes on.
And if I’m part of that list, thank you very much. I’m very proud to be
on it. But I don’t take it personally. I just think that’s what comes
with it. And I think now people are starting to understand this is what
comes with it. Why can’t we just part ways? Why can’t we just say:
‘Listen, we had the collapse, we’re looking for a change, that’s why
we’re parting with Terry.’ ” -Nomar Garciaparra
woadude
David Ortiz is exactly what the Mariners need, a good bat in the middle of the order. Oh and he swings left handed? Beautiful, Red Sox get crap pick because the Mariners’ top pick is protected.
MB923
Yep, or the A’s as well unless they want Matsui back.
start_wearing_purple
Because there’s never been a good player signed with a round 1A pick or a 2nd round pick?
0bsessions
Well, we’re going to get a second round pick regardless of who signs him. The only team with an unprotected pick that could conceivably sign Ortiz is the Blue Jays. The Angels are stuck with Abreu, the Rays can’t afford him, the Tigers have Martinez, the Rangers have Napoli and the Yankees have Montero and multiple aging players to rotate in and out of the spot. And I sincerely doubt AA will give up a draft pick to sign a guy who’s not going to help them by the time they’re competetive. So we’re pretty much guaranteed that, if he leaves, it’ll be to a team with a protected pick (White Sox, Orioles or Mariners in all likelihood).
On the plus side of things, there are only four free agents ranked higher than Ortiz (Phillips, Wilson, Pujols and Fielder) and two of them are guys who are almost certain not to be signed by whoever signs Ortiz (Pujols or Fielder) so the odds are against his compensation slipping to a third rounder. The only way I imagine Ortiz winding up slipping to third rounder compensation is if a dark horse candidate like the White Sox or Mariners signs Wilson too.
jwsox
The whitesox have no place to play him unless they somehow
Trade Adam Dunn and the cost to sign Ortiz is the same as what the sox don’t have to eat in trading Dunn. But in all honesty the sox make no sense. They are in a self proclaimed rebuild. They are going to shed money let young guys play and keep some key vets and try to rebuild and be competitive at the same time.
0bsessions
I forgot about Dunn (Considering he was effectively a non-entity, can you blame me?).
So, I guess it’s Orioles, Mariners or bust?
Honestly, I figure he ends up back in Boston. I mean, what use do the Mariners or Orioles really have for him in the next year or two?
MaineSox
I honestly think that Boston is the only place he can get anything close to the contract he’ll be looking for. In Boston he’s an “icon” and part of two world championships, anywhere else he’s an aging DH who can’t fill in at any position on the field, even occasionally. He’d likely have to settle for something like what other DHs have been getting the last few years (1-2 years at 4-6 mil per, at most).
Moebarguy
There is a zero percent chance the Yankees sign David Ortiz.
rundmc1981
NYY should sign him, then bench him, then trade him to KC after deferring a no-trade clause for $1M.
jlasovage
love papi to death but come on. who is going to give up picks for a type a free agent plus you know he wont want a significant pay cut. so who would be willing to pay 9-12 mill for a dh only on the down side of his playing life. papi will take the 2yr-10 mil per deal the sox will offer and thats it. he needs to be part of the solution to get the sox clubhouse on track. get those diva pitchers off there a$$ in the clubhouse and in the dugout cheering on and supporting there team
Jon Hoffman
Ortiz does not like the drama? Isn’t he the one that went to the media saying Alfredo Aceves should be starting. Wasn’t he the one that busted into one of Terry’s press conferences to complaining about a scoring change? Sometimes you need to look in the mirror.
mikhelb
It is mighty difficult when he can only see half of himself in any mirror =/
MaineSox
I’d have to imagine that if David left, a good portion of the “drama” would go with him. He needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.
Steelslayer
I am not a Boston fan, but this whole situation around this team has turned into such a joke, and has taken on a life of its own.
Yes it was one of the biggest collapses in baseball history, but the media scrutiny and unrealistic fan expectations meant that this was bound to happen at some point or another. Boston’s situation on the field is not as bad as people are making this out to be, and they still have a very good team that many other fans should be enviable of. Francona was definitly a scape goat, and wonderboy Theo has decided much like a rat on sinking ship, to get off- rather clean up his own mess. David Ortiz is a selfish goof that is trying set himself up for a pay-day. He should act like the leader that he claims to be, stand up for his team and push hard to be resigned by being positive about this team. I don’t think he will repeat what he was able to do this year or in the past. he has also enjoyed some great lineups around him that have offered protection and RBI opportunities for a player that is IMO overrated and over-the-hill
East Coast Bias
wtf is wrong with fried chicken? I love fried chicken! How in the world is this a big deal? Would it be different if it were grilled? Or baked? What about pan seared? Everyone loves a good pan sear, right?
MaineSox
Maybe it’s not the being fried, maybe it’s the fact that it was chicken. They should have been eating fried steak.
chico65
What I want to know is whose fried chicken? Popeye’s? KFC? Spicy, non, orginal recipe, or extra crispy? Tito’s a drug addict but we’re missing essential details in the story such as this?
Truly a new low point for the Boston media.
John DiRienzo
probably Popeye’s. it’s right down the street from the park.
i bet they made Lackey go get it so they’d let him in their club
mikhelb
The “inside source” (my guess is a player with no friends in the team and who doesn’t have any regret to ‘burn’ his teammates because he either won’t be back or doesn’t care about them), said it was Kentucky Fried Chicken Original Recipe.
BoSoxSam
Sounds like they were eating Jobu’s chicken.
0bsessions
Then people would be harping on them for wasteful spending in a down economy. You cannot win this game.
MaineSox
True, steak is way too expensive. Maybe they should have stuck with deep fried butter, or Oreos (mmm deep fried Oreos…)
John DiRienzo
i’m glad someone else has heard about the deep fried butter.
that is just a terrible thing to do to one’s body, lol
MaineSox
Seriously, it makes me want to vomit just thinking about it.
0bsessions
The Boston fanbase embarasses me because not only is it bad enough that this fried chicken and beer thing is being overblown by the media, but the fanbase is, by and large, absolutely eating it up.
As a sign of solidarity, I plan on hitting Popeye’s after work and making my way down to the financial district to see if I can reroute the purpose of Occupy Boston.
mikhelb
It was KFC not Popeyes LOL, yeah, that was how detailed the inside information was, the only thing they left out was the brand of the beer they drinked; it sounded more like a commercial.
0bsessions
Seriously? All of a sudden the whole thing makes sense. The closest KFC to Fenway Park is the Inman Square location in Cambridge and frankly speaking, that is the worst KFC I have ever encountered, and that’s saying something.
That said, I don’t understand why they’d be sending people out for KFC when there’s a Popeye’s literally a two minute walk from the park.
guest_54
To set up a future endorsement deal of course . . .
0bsessions
Entirely at the cost of their season. I’ve been to that KFC before and I can tell you with utmost certainty that I know exactly what ruined September for the Red Sox. That place’ll eat your stomach from the inside out on its own, adding beer into the situation?
$7562574
a very fat dunderhead.
bust0ff
The Red Sox are in desperate need of some hungry players. I am surprised that Ortiz is not one of them.
There was a time when I thought he was one of the good guys.
0bsessions
“The Red Sox are in desperate need of some hungry players. I am surprised that Ortiz is not one of them. ”
The context that could be applied to this statement makes it just about the last thing I EVER expected to hear in my lifetime. I would be surprised if the guy ever WASN’T hungry, he named his kid D’Angelo for crying out loud.
bust0ff
I was hoping someone would appreciate that angle! 🙂
mikhelb
D’Angelo is a detox clinic for overweight people in the Dominican Republic… ok nope.
East Coast Bias
Oh yeah, one more thing… David Ortiz would NOT fit into the Yankees culture. David doesn’t realize what he’s saying. Coming from a lax clubhouse to a stern one like the Yanks, with military man Girardi at the helm… Ortiz wouldn’t survive that, or at least I don’t think he would. It isn’t for everyone. The Yankees culture has always been rigid, rule abiding, do things our way or get out type of deal. Boston has had that light hearted fun culture that’s made them darlings to media and fans alike. It works for them.
But Yanks are the polar opposite of what Ortiz is used to, and I reiterate, he doesn’t know what he’s saying.
jjs91
If Swish could be himself under this system i think ortiz can handle it, i also dont see him in the same light as the media portrays him, he can serious and is most of time.
mikhelb
But even Swisher doesn’t look as ‘clowny’ as he did in his previous teams.
BoSoxSam
Cano, Granderson, and Swisher sure seem to be yukking it up the majority of the time.
slider32
Holy Cow, eat more chicken!
SixAces
And have a few beers!
chico65
Yeah, there’s no way he gets rid of that chinstrap of his, and such nonsense will not be tolerated there.
GoAwayNow
Johnny Damon thrived there
wakefield4life
I’m a big fan of Papi and I even supported him when his Balco test results came out. That said, I didn’t even want them to pick up Papi’s option for this year. He had a decent year last year and he had a better year this year, but that’s it. After he had his surgery, I would haven taken any Papi production as gravy. For me, he’s done and I wanted to go another direction a long time ago. I was really worried that the sox were going to tender him a contract just to appease the sox fans, so thank you Papi for making management’s decision a little easier.
slider32
Like it or not Manny and Papi were the Red Sox!
notsureifsrs
time to change your username
wakefield4life
But then that wouldn’t be “4life.” How else will I live?
wakefield4life
But then that wouldn’t be “4life.” How else will I live?
vinny_b
give it a rest David (Ortiz).
we don’t want you.
Jwills
If you want an answer as to whom would be willing to give up 1st round compensation and the money, I can start with Orioles. He has been destroying pitching for a decade and they could use this to push past the marginal team they are. I say the Orioles offered Vlad on the decline a 1yr-8mil so they could offer Papi a 2yr 26mil, deal and then take the money they were gonna allocate for Fielder and put it into CC (if he really is just looking for more money) or Wilson, of course they could and should.
BTW I will miss Papi
0bsessions
The Orioles signing Ortiz makes sense and honestly, if he leaves, I think it’s the most logical destination, BUT they’re going to be a marginal team with or without him. Their offense is honestly not that bad. They had an identical wOBA as a team to the Rays and outplayed them in multiple offensive categories and they actually outperformed the Phillies across the board offensively (Outside of OBP). That said, their pitching has been an unmitigated disaster pretty much since Mussina left.
Jwills
You missed the point there. If you were going to offer Prince 7/170 and instead you offer Papi 25-28 million over 2 years, you are left with a large chunk to play with. Trading for Shields or Burnett(local guy with NY Pressure off him, may pay off like it did in toronto) and sigining one of CJ Wilson, Kuroda, Buehrle, or Dempster and you instantly become a better team then the year before. You can sign a possible closer and allow Jim Johnson to go back to setting up and the team is past the marginal point.
Wilson and Papi for 125 > Fielder for 170
A rotation of Wilson,Burnett,Guthrie,Britton and whomever of the 5th starters you want (Matusz/Tillman/Arrieta/Simon/Hunter/Bergeson trust me I can go on for a while) is not a bad one.
0bsessions
No, I got your point, it[‘s just full of holes.
The Orioles don’t really need offense that badly. They’re middle of the road for offense and outhit two playoff teams this season (Not to mention how drastic of an overpay $25 million for Ortiz, no one’s going to even approach that figure). Beyond that, if you’re going to go offense, now that you bring it up, Fielder is a MUCH better option than Ortiz. Fielder’s going to have his weight screw with him later, but he can DH in a few years. Ortiz is quite likely to break down completely soon enough.
As for that rotation, well, for one, you’re not getting Shields. The Orioles’ farm system isn’t close to being good enough to land someone like him. As for the other options, well…you say it’s not a “bad” rotation. First off, that’s debateable. Wilson’s a borderline number one (Not an ace by any stretch) ala Burnett or Lackey and giving him ace money is a highly regrettable move. Kuroda, Buehrle and Dempster are all getting up there and are fourth starters on pretty much every other AL East team. So yeah, that rotation you just threw together is technically an improvement on the Orioles’ current rotation, but it’s still easily the worst rotation in the division and not enough to pull them out of the cellar, much less make them competetive.
The Orioles’ problem right now is that they keep spending money on free agents when they really should just blow the whole thing up and enter a full fledged rebuild. Unfortunately, they’re years away from an effective rebuild because, despite the money they keep spending, they don’t have many players good enough that they can get any valuable prospects for. Honestly, it’s getting to the point where they should probably consider trading Weiters as who knows if they’ll be close by the time his arbitration clock runs out.
Jwills
I am lost on how 25 million would be an overpay. He is coming off a comeback season, and is looking for a 2 year deal. 2 years/25 million is the same deal he reached with the red sox two years ago. Fielder is not a better option since he is not a 1B with his size. He is really a part time-1B AND a 3/4 DH. Especially in year 3-7 of his deal.
The fact that you think Shields is off limits cause of the farm system is really unthinkable since most of the guys that the Rays look for are deep within the system alongside a superstar. A guy like Machado is perfect centerpiece for Shields. It works for both since the Rays missing piece is a SS. Machado,Schoop,Bridwell and Hoes would see like a great coup for the Rays.
They cant enter a full fledged rebuild since they have too many pieces that are currently in the majors. Markakis,Jones,Hardy,Reynolds,Weiters even Brian Roberts if/when Healthy is too much to trade away. They need to concentrate on building up a rotation and a bullpen. Giving Wilson 85-100 million (which they would have to overpay similar to what the Nats had to do with Weth to make him impressed enough to come) is not ace money. Cliff Lee got 5/125 and CC got 9/170 so Wilson’s deal would be no where near ace money. Kuroda,Buehrle and Dempster are playing with what is on the market. If Halladay,Felix and Kershaw were all on the market I agree they should try but apparently they have signed deals already.
The only Orioles problem is that they have a few veterans, some prime players, a few first year major leaguers, and no farm system at all. I would not be in favor of making a trade similar to what I wrote for Shields if they had no one but the money is already spent and they are looking to be competitive.
0bsessions
“2 years/25 million is the same deal he reached with the red sox two years ago. ”
First off, no it isn’t. Ortiz got that rate in the 2006 offseason, when he was coming off a career year where he hit over 50 homers. He was also a Boston icon at the time. Now he’s five years older, has had some discernable drop in quality and the market for non-elite free agents has basically tanked, especially DHs (He’s the only current DH making over $10MM). The Red Sox would consider $12 for him because he’s a local icon, but you lose than fan appeal when he leaves and his value falls accordingly. Signing David Ortiz isn’t going to bring fans back to Camden and he won’t get premium dollars from them for that.
“The fact that you think Shields is off limits cause of the farm system is really unthinkable since most of the guys that the Rays look for are deep within the system alongside a superstar.”
Look at it this way: Do the Orioles have a better farm system than the Yankees, Red Sox or Jays? No. Will the Rays trade Shields to the Orioles when the Jays, Sox and Yankees could both use him and would offer a better package? No. Will the Rays likely even consider an in-division trade for Shields when they’re currently competetive? Probably not. There isn’t even a remote chance the Orioles snag Shields and you’re dlusional if you think otherwise.
“The only Orioles problem is that they have a few veterans, some prime players, a few first year major leaguers, and no farm system at all. I would not be in favor of making a trade similar to what I wrote for Shields if they had no one but the money is already spent and they are looking to be competitive. ”
How are those “only” problems a recipe for them being competetive any time soon? They’re currently fighting the Blue Jays for fourth place and the Blue Jays started their rebuild years ago and have a top five farm. The Orioles are, at best, probably four or five years from competing with the way the rest of the division is currently stacked.
Jwills
wow I am delusional for thinking the Rays would trade Shields to the Orioles? Can you do me a favor and tell me how in the span of 2 sentences you say. Probably not and then I am delusional for thinking it could happen. Either there is an absolute or not. The real reason you put probably not, was your are not as stupid as thinking that if the Yankees lost Sabathia and then decided to overpay (ex: Banuelos,Montero and Romine) for Shields, they would say no way. I can’t do this deal with 3 possible all-star caliber prospects for James because I might see him a few times a year.
You are also not stupid enough to say NO to the deal I wrote up. It’s ok that you come on here thinking you can belittle people and come up with hypothetical scenarios but unfortunately you like all of us on this board are just fans. So you know nothing until the actual process happens and the first pitch is thrown for the 2012 season. If you have a constructive idea, then post it. If you have an opinion, go run upstairs and tell your mom and dad about it before dinner, cause no one on here cares.
0bsessions
“Can you do me a favor and tell me how in the span of 2 sentences you say. Probably not and then I am delusional for thinking it could happen.”
I can do that because you’re COMPLETELY misinterpreting my statement. Is it merely improbable the Rays would trade him inside of the division while they’re still competetive to begin with? Yes. Is it effectively impossible that the Orioles get him? Yes. That’s easily reconcilable because they’re two entirely different lines of thought that are merely components that factor into the impossibility of the Orioles getting Shields. In the highly unlikely situation the Rays would offer up Shields inside of their own division, they’re not going to trade him to the team in their division with, by far, the absolute worst farm system. The fact that they likely won’t trade him in-division is merely a hindrance that bears mentioning, the fact that all three other teams in the division could put together a better package, are closer to competing (Thus being more willing to trade more for him) AND need a pitcher like Shields means that it is effectively impossible that Shields ends up being traded to Baltimore.
“You are also not stupid enough to say NO to the deal I wrote up.”
See, now this is exactly where you destroy your own flimsy argument. You yourself gave an example of a better package that the Yankees could put together for Shields without even damaging their likelihood to continue succeeding. Again, because you’re clearly having comprehension issues, the Orioles being in the same division is a surmountable difficulty. The Orioles being in the same division AND not having the pieces to top any offer the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Yankees would offer up to snag someone like Shields is an insurmountable difficulty.
As for the last cute little jab, mom and dad generally had dinner ready well before quarter to ten.
RedSox69
He’s just looking for a bigger pay check…but to memtion the yanks or even talking about them is like a slap in the face to Red Sox nation (Johnny Damon)..we now know what he thinks..it’s all about the money screw the Red Sox…go back to Sept and watch his at bats…the hits were no where to be found…drama he say’s…all the talking about a contrat and rbi’s and making pitching decisions …ya we know what your about…don’t need your drama either…looks like the weakest link here…GOOD-BYE
$6101468
Way to go Papi. Play the old Yankee card that’ll get the attention of the front office or whoever is now in the front office. Nothing like going public to get your contract front and center you old “Drama Queen” Papi. Now in case he didn’t notice it is not going to actually be an earth shaking demand for big bucks FA’s and just maybe time for both parties to move on. Heck….nothing like having Papi and AGon on the base paths at the same time. Like stuck in traffic behind two campers going up an 15% upgade.
yanksfan2010
I’m a die hard Yankees fan and I admit I hate the Redsox. But I respect David Ortiz for the player he is. He is a great hitter and one of the best DH’s the game has had. Also the fact the he does a lot of charitity work is a good thing. It will be a great lose to the Redsox if he goes somewhere else.
SixAces
Yeah he’s great, crying over the scorer’s decision that took a RBI from him. BTW, did he find the real killers and the culprits behind the papi shakes yet?
Sam Sholes
Let him go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then you can call up Will Middlebrooks for 3b and put Youkilis at DH . Theo used the term “bridge year” in the past but 2012 is literally the best opportunity for this team to recharge. They will not enter 2012 with the expectations they had going into this past season.
Alex 18
Why in the world is this considered news? No way in hell would the Yankees consider Ortiz. Next story.
slider32
The Red Sox media managed to turn the whole team sour on Boston after their comments yesterday. No wonder Tito and Theo left!
notsureifsrs
“i hate drama therefore i will tell the boston press i like the sound of playing for the yankees”
NYPOTENCE
New york is big media center however, that does NOT mean that the Yankees attract bad types of drama. I’m sure Ortiz was implying that he does not enjoy negative attention he wouldn’t mind receiving attention for a title. The Yankees bring lots of drama however it is not necessarily negative, Ex: Mo’s saves record, Jeter’s 3000th hit, Arod’s 600th HR.
notsureifsrs
you misunderstood the comment. telling the boston press what he did is a recipe for creating drama
Jim McGrath
I wish Ortiz luck wherever he goes. Maybe the Yanks, Maybe the O’s–those are the teams with money to spend.
Sox are looking at saving $25 M + between Ortiz and Drew—There are a couple of boppers that are free agents that can play a position which Ortiz can’t do in addition to being a few years younger.
Montero has thepotential to be a better all around player than Ortiz going forward. ARod will not be playing 3 B much longer requiring him to DH. Yanks out.
The O’s have the money and the need–I think that’s where he will land which will also mean he will settle for a little less money.
He could surprise everyone and go to the Ray’s lloking at a shot with their pitching to win another WS.
genius.gm.on.mlb.the.show
wow the sox are in rebuilding mode with a new GM, new skipper
jwsox
What’s the real issue here. I’m sorry I don’t see the problem with off day starters eating and playing video games in the club house. Drinking games there is an issue. But come on baseball is not a team sport no matter how you spin it. There are teams out there that dont even demand their pitchers be there on their off day.
AZJack6
thats not true at all. Baseball isnt a team sport? possibly funniest thing ive read today. Tell that to a pitcher. Without his defense, he would be nothing. Without his TEAMATES in a TEAM sport, your argument is unbelievably ignorant. It is clear youve never played baseball in your life and you watch sparingly at best.
Phillies_Aces35
I don’t understand how baseball isn’t a team sport? It’s probably the most team oriented sport in existence right now. One man can’t carry a franchise (other than Bonds, or Pujols but those are exceptions, not the rule).
As for the beer drinking, fried chicken eating, it might be one thing if those guys showed up to pitch in September but all 3 got light up. That’s why it’s getting the media attention. They bailed on their team and they weren’t focused when it mattered.
Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia, etc would NEVER be caught bailing on their team the way those 3 did, and frankly, should be ashamed of themselves. After the game is one thing, but there’s a war going on outside of the club house, 9 (10 counting the DH) are fighting to keep your season alive, the least you can do is support your team.
Justanotherfantoo
How dare Ortiz speak ill of the Red Sox for becoming a zoo where he may no longer want to play because the team throws almost every icon under the bus who’s ever played for them (and now managed) when they leave town.
Let’s remember — loyalty is a one-way street. The team owes former players and coaches nothing and players and coaches owe the team everything — at least if the team is the Red Sox.
Throw the bum out of town — and release his medical records and other personal information, too. (Why should Ortiz get preferential treatment?)
Braydon Gervais
If Big Papi ever wears pinstripes I think it might kill me…first Damon, now this? To be a Sox fan…
NYPOTENCE
I would rather see Beltran in pinstripes. He is more versatile than Ortiz and wouldn’t command the DH spot as excessively as Ortiz.