Ortiz signs extension through 2010, option for 2011

[Fishercat]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

BOSTON (AP) -- David Ortiz agreed to a $52 million, four-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox on Monday rather than explore the free-agent market next year.

The deal keeps his powerful bat, bright smile and sharp wit in Boston's clubhouse without the possibility of him departing after the 2007 season, when Ortiz could have become a free agent. But he loves Boston and didn't want to be besieged by suitors.

"You have a lot of people coming right at you," he said during a news conference at Fenway Park. "I feel this is my house and I've got to protect this house."

The designated hitter was in the last year of a $12.5 million, two-year extension he signed in May 2004. That deal called for a $6.5 million salary this year and gave Boston an option for 2007 that currently was valued at $8.4 million with a $1.4 million buyout.

His new agreement includes a $2 million signing bonus payable in three installments this year, keeps this year's salary the same and adds annual salaries of $12.5 million from 2007-10. The Red Sox get a $12.5 million option for 2011 with no buyout.

Very happy about this, perhaps a little risky for a big guy, but letting him go would be career suicide for a GM, as he would be snapped up by the Yankees.

[RockSports17]

Of course he would've been.

Seriously, great news as soon as I heard it. It was nice to see Sox sign him to a long term deal.

[BoSox34]

Glad to see this finished early and can now begin to looking forward to 4 more seasons of Big Papi pounding pitches out of Fenway.

[love_that_reefer]

Can't believe what I heard on "Quite Frankly" last night from the biggest moron in sports media Stephen A. SMith. He actually said that Ortiz was under paid!!! A dh making that much money makes me sick to my stomach. $13 mil for a one dimensional player is overpaid. Yes he is clutch and crushes the ball but for $13 million?

[Fishercat]

13 million sounds fair considering the salaries garnered in the offseason for other hitters (similar contract for an older, declining Damon who isn't as good a hitter but a better fielder at what he does).

[love_that_reefer]

Damon was overpaid as well. Ortiz makes the same as Derek Lee. Does that make any sense?

[Fishercat]

I think Ortiz is a slightly less risky player, and considering his value to this team, I would have been happy with the Sox paying more.

[love_that_reefer]

Of course he's less risky, he doesn't play the field. Dh's are like bullpen catchers in that aspect.

[Fishercat]

I was more talking about Lee having (clearly) a career year (huge jump in a lot of stats) while Ortiz has been a relatively steady guy for the past three.

Ortiz can play first if he needs to, it just happens that the Sox have better fielding 1B options and they don't need to risk him unless the DH is eliminated (and he does play first in interleague). I mean, best case scenario, the Sox play Ortiz at first, Youk at third, and DH Manny/Trot (put WMP in LF/RF). Likely a decent offensive upgrade, but I have to believe the defensive downgrade at first and third would make it so the move isn't worth it, especially at third with Lowell.

[Saber]

Actually, the Red Sox have played clearly inferior players at first just keep Ortiz from taking the field. There is a reason he was a career DH before he ever turned 30, making him a much larger risk than Derrek Lee. It probably would have been better just to pick up his option for 2007 and let him walk.

[Fishercat]

Couldn't disagree more. I doubt the Sox had anyone on their roster, at the time, perhaps except Graffanino over Lowell (2006), that would have made playing Ortiz daily at first a worthwhile option.

[love_that_reefer]

Lee is actually the more consistent hitter if you look at both of their careers and Lee is the better all around. And the top ten reason why the Red Sox keep getting first basemen is.......Ortiz isn't good at first.

[Fishercat]

Never said he was good at first. Don't think he is. I just think he could play there if the Sox needed (he has done adequately in interleague).

[Saber]

I meant that Ortiz is so awful and so mistrusted at first that the Red Sox refused to play him more than 79 innings there last year. That's saying something considering you have Manny Ramirez treating each flyball as a unique and previously-unencountered experience whilst in left field.

[Lance324]

Good Job locking this guy up, maybe the Sox have finally learned something about letting contracts that could have easily been extended run out and having guys walk. I'm not sure I like it being for 4 years, but we needed to lock this guy up.