It’s no secret Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has has been unhappy about his contract status after settling for a one-year deal last offseason. Before Wednesday’s game, in which Ortiz slugged his 400th career home run, he told USA Today’s Jorge Ortiz in an extensive Spanish-language interview that he feels “humiliated” and “embarrassed” about his contract situation.
The Red Sox’ designated hitter hit .309 with 29 homers and 96 RBIs last season, but the newly positioned Sox general manager, Ben Cherington, opted against signing Ortiz to a multi-year contract. Instead, he offered Ortiz arbitration. They agreed to a one-year, $14.575 million deal, a $2.025 million raise from the year before.
Comments
If I was making more thatn a million dollars a month for hitting a ball, I'd be very happy!
Enough bellyaching in the press, Papi. Sox were right to be cautious going into this season, given problems you had in the two prior seasons. You've making the case for a two-year extension with a thus-far outstanding season. Be patient and stop complaining.
My first thought is...boy a tough life making millions while playing a game. My second thought is... that Ortiz does have a point considering the other contracts offered by the Red Sox to sign other players. My third thought...Ortiz is a DH. Is he the highest paid DH in the game. I will have to look this one up. My final thought...boy a tough life making millions while playing a game and traveling first class. Kiley
Money is far from the only important thing in life. Self-respect is at least as important in the long run. Ortiz is probably fixed for life and he could make just as much money -- possibly more -- with other teams. I don't blame him for feeling humiliated and insulted. Money is much less important to him, except as a way of measuring his self-worth, but the way he's treated is also very important. Personally, I think he's being treated badly, as was Epstein (twice) and Francona. So what's new?
When you have enough money to grouse about your contract, you've just lost my sympathy about the anything connected to your money. If there were a personal/family issue, now you have my attention even though it's none of my business. I leave enough money at Fenway for me to feel OK about commenting on this very good, very appreciated, but whimpering ballplayer.
I've long believed that the Sox thought that Ortiz was on PEDs and that the advent of more aggressive testing would trigger a precipitous decline in his production. So, there was no point in committing to him beyond one year. It hasn't happened, but it was a legitimate concern. Ortiz is very well paid. If his anger pushes him to perform at an even higher level, then both he and the Sox are benefitting, and he'll do even better with his next one year deal. That said, it is time for him to just shut up. It's becoming very clear that toward the end, Tito lost the ability to manage his veterans. Their egocentric quirks continue to cause distractions. Ortiz would be a better leader if he continued to perform AND focused all of his passion on the game and less of it on himself.
Is that what you do? Live a selfless life? All human beings have some very basic similarities no matter what their job it or how much they make. Let all those who never think of themselves criticize those who do.
What a pathetic egomaniac - a mear $2 million raise over last year - wow - why doesn't he see what he is worth outside of baseball? Just pack up your bats David - and try to get a job in the real world.
Bob Ryan says its OK for Mitchell Report Ortiz to whine and throw his teamates under the bus. Do Bob's feet actually touch the ground anymore? I mean, what planet is he on. Ryan I mean. He should read the unbelievably overwhelming disgust the fans have for Me David, You Nothing, Ortiz, on Boston.com. Bob its time to retire. Why don't you go to Europe for a few months, Great Britain is nice and your imperious attitude would fit well with a king, say King George III. Then get a job writing for one of those old East European Bloc papers, where agenda driven fairytales are the order of the day for the readers they have nothing but contempt for.
Ryan's column doesn't come close to being as imperious are your post. Do your feet touch the ground? What planet are you on? Ryan is but a shadow compared to you.
Let's see...$14,575,000 for standing up at the plate 4 or 5 times a game. That's it. Of course, if he gets a hit, he has to run. Tough job. Look at it this way: If he averages 4.5 at bats per game over 162 games, that's 729 at bats. So he gets paid $19,993.14 every time he steps up to the plate. As I said, tough job.