Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has come to terms with the MLB club on a one-year contract extension that will pay him $16 million for the 2015 baseball season.
The Red Sox also hold a club option in the deal for the 2016 campaign which is based on the number of plate appearances Ortiz makes in 2015. In addition, the team also has an option for 2017.
Ortiz had an excellent season last year, as he helped the Red Sox win the World Series by being named the MVP of the series while batting .688 in it.
The 38-year-old has helped the Red Sox win three World Series titles in the last 10 years with his hitting expertise and leadership qualities. He joined the club back in 2003 after when he was released by the Minnesota Twins after six years.
At that time, all 30 MLB franchises could have signed the slugger, but former Boston general manager Theo Epstein signed him to a $1.25 million deal for one year. This new contract is Ortiz’s sixth with the club since 2003.
Ortiz was mainly used as a platoon player by the Red Sox at the start, but after Shea Hillenbrand was traded to Arizona in May of 2003 he became a regular starter at the designated hitter position. He also placed fifth in the voting for the AL's MVP Award during his first year in Boston.
Ortiz has been with the Red Sox for 11 years now and has a total of 373 home runs with the club as well as 1,191 RBIs and a .292 batting average. His MLB career numbers show Ortiz has played in 1,969 games with 431 home runs and 1,429 RBIs.
However, Ortiz is even able to crank things up a notch to another level once the playoffs begin. He has appeared in 82 career postseason contests and has compiled a .295 batting average to go along with his 17 home runs and 60 RBIs.
Many of his playoff hits have been of the clutch variety with games on the line. He led Boston to a famous 2004 ALCS victory over the New York Yankees after falling behind three games to none.
With the Yankees poised for a four-game sweep, Ortiz hammered a walk-off home run in game four to keep the Red Sox alive. He then won game five with a 14th-inning single to keep the series going.
The Red Sox eventually triumphed in seven games, becoming the only team in MLB history to rally from a three-game deficit. Boston then won the World Series in four straight games to win the title for the first time in 86 years.
Ortiz has been struggling in preseason action this year, but neither he nor the team are worried about his 2-for-35 slump and his 12 strikeouts.
Ortiz said he’ll be fine once opening day arrives and the Red Sox management believe him. He claimed it’s hard to get motivated during spring training since he’s been around for so many years.
John Farrell, the Red Sox manager, said he’s not concerned at all and knows what Ortiz will bring to the table once the regular season starts.
