The Red Sox and designated hitter David Ortiz have agreed to a two-year deal worth $26 million that could allow one of the stars of the franchise’s cathartic 2004 World Series victory to retire in a Boston uniform.
A baseball official with knowledge of the negotiations said last night the deal, with incentive bonuses, could bring Ortiz as much as $30 million in the 2013 and ’14 seasons. The official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said the team had nothing to announce. Ortiz’s agent, Fern Cuza, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Speaking at the Celtics’ home opener against the Bucks, Ortiz said, “We haven’t finished it up yet.”
“It’s coming,” he said as he walked back to his courtside seat at the TD Garden “It’s coming.”
In other news, Boston did not make qualifying offers to right-handers Aaron Cook, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Vicente Padilla; first baseman James Loney; and outfielders Scott Podsednik and Cody Ross.
MARLINS: Miami introduced new manager Mike Redmond, a backup catcher with Miami’s 2003 world championship team.
Redmond spent the past two years managing Class-A teams in the Blue Jays’ system and signed a three-year contract. He replaces the fired Ozzie Guillen.
ANGELS:
Dan Haren has become a free agent after the team failed to work out a trade and then declined the pitcher’s 2013 option.
The three-time All-Star gets a $3.5 million buyout under the deal, which included a $15.5 million club option for 2013.
RANGERS: Texas has made a $13.3 million qualifying offer to Josh Hamilton, ensuring the team draft-pick compensation if the slugger signs with another team.
General manager Jon Daniels said the team isn’t making the same offer to Mike Napoli, though there is mutual interest of the catcher returning to the Rangers.
ASTROS: The team has unveiled new uniforms, getting rid of the brick red they’ve worn since 2000 and returning to the orange and navy blue used for most of the franchise’s existence.