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ANALYSIS

Will David Ortiz get a raise over his $15 million?

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz.AP/file

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Based on conversations with David Ortiz, he definitely feels he deserves a raise over the $15 million he has earned the past two seasons with the Red Sox, especially after being named World Series MVP and having one of the best offensive seasons in baseball in 2013.

Ortiz will earn $15 million this season based on an $11 million guaranteed salary plus $4 million for being on the disabled list fewer than 20 days in 2013.

We’ll see if there’s some built-in mechanism for Ortiz to earn more than his 2014 salary when his extension is finally agreed upon soon. Ortiz and his agent, Fernando Cuza, could make a case for a $20 million extension based on the cast of characters around baseball earning that much now.

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Ortiz also could settle for a hometown discount again just to get the discussion behind him.

Mike Napoli will be the highest-paid player on the Red Sox this season, earning $16 million, while John Lackey is next at $15.25 million. Should either player make more than Ortiz?

Jake Peavy comes in at $14.5 million while Shane Victorino and Jon Lester are at $13 million and Dustin Pedroia is at $12.5 million.

Since his offseason and early-camp outbursts concerning his contract, Ortiz has been very quiet about the subject, an indication that he and the Red Sox believe something is going to get done.

Ortiz’s representatives have been in and out of Fort Myers, and they were here Thursday.


Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.