I love this:
STORM BREWING?
David Ortiz’s comments may be the first signal
David Ortiz looks like he could easily play another two years, given the way he’s hitting. But you wonder if his comments at a news conference in the Dominican Republic last week might escalate into something the Red Sox dearly want to avoid — a contract dispute.
When Ortiz signed a two-year contract last winter, there was mutual agreement not to open up talks until the end of that deal, according to a major league source. Of course, Ortiz overcame heel issues to have one of the best offensive seasons in baseball. And he topped it off with an amazing postseason, being named World Series MVP.
Ortiz has become a better pure hitter as he’s gotten older. He rarely gets fooled and is one of the best guess hitters in the game because he can think along with the pitcher. It hasn’t reached the point of Barry Bonds, who was the greatest hitter in the game with the Giants, seeing perhaps one good pitch per at-bat and driving it out of the ballpark.
“He’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Bonds in a long time,” said one National League GM. “And I don’t mean steroids or PEDs or anything like that. I mean from a pure hitter and being the imposing figure he is. He’s an imposing guy. He’s scary at the plate in big situations. Right there with Miguel Cabrera. When you have a guy like this who excels in that role and is a devastating middle-of-the-order hitter still at his age, that’s quite an asset for the Red Sox.”
So, is Ortiz underpaid?
He may be. Any agreement not to reopen talks can be broken, but it doesn’t appear the Sox want to do that. Ortiz is feeling good about himself and he understands that at age 38, he’s going to have to agree to shorter contracts.
“You always think of Big Papi as a Red Sox and that he’ll always re-sign with them,” said the GM. “If he has another great season in 2014 and he’s out there as a free agent, teams will take their shot.’’
Uhhh...care to tell us what Ortiz said in the DR last week, Nick? Or was Alta Vista just down when you were on deadline?