Ben Cherington wants David Ortiz to extend contract with Boston Red Sox – MLB Update
Boston Red Sox’s new general manager, Ben Cherington, expressed his desire to keep David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon with the team for at least the next season in a bid to keep the strength of the roster intact.
The new GM has some major issues to deal with, handling the free agency players and naming a new manager being the top priority. Soon after the World Series between St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers is over on Friday, October 28, Cherington will be required
to make announcements on these issues.
Ortiz and Papelbon have been among the most consistent performers of the ballclub and with free agency looming, neither of them wants to leave. Papelbon has gone year-to-year on contracts throughout his career, earning 12-million-dollars in 2011 alone. This
is the first time that he has to deal with free agency and does not want to make a mess of it. With 31 saves at a 2.94 ERA during the regular season, several clubs might be interested in acquiring the relief pitcher, but Papelbon has insisted that he wants
to stay at Boston.
Cherington expressed his desire of Ortiz finishing his career with the Red Sox and asserted that he is in talks with the player and his agent on the matter. Ortiz has agreed to this proposition, but has hinted that a multi-year deal will suffice for his
stay at Boston. Nevertheless, a lucrative offer might be enough to secure the deal.
"If the Red Sox sign me right now they won't regret (it)," Ortiz added. "I've got so many ways to keep doing what I've been doing around here. I bring so much to this organisation, I bring so much to the table here because I care so much about this organisation."
The new GM added that both players have earned the right to test the market, but he feels that Papelbon might not return to the ballclub. He continued that Ortiz might also prefer a more lucrative deal, but he will talk to the player himself before that
happens.
It is getting quite evident that the management wants Ortiz to stay with the Red Sox for at least the next season, but it still remains to be seen if the offer is considerable.
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