Following a season of turmoil and controversy, the Boston Red Sox are finally enjoying some positive headlines in the off-season.
The team brought in a new manager that has a familiarity with the city and the team in John Farrell and now has officially signed fan-favorite David Ortiz to a new two-year deal.
The team announced the move on Monday, saying Ortiz signed a "two-year deal worth at least $26 million, according to a source."
ESPNBoston.com also reported that "Ortiz, who made $14.575 million last season on a one-year deal, will make $14 million in 2013, $11 million in 2014 and will get a $1 million signing bonus with performance incentives that could bring the total value to $30 million, according to a team source."
Ortiz was sidelined for most of the season after suffering an Achilles strain in July. Following the injury he played in only one game the rest of the season. Ortiz hit .318 with 23 home runs and 60 RBIs in just 90 games.
Former manager Bobby Valentine made waves recently after saying that he felt Ortiz gave up on the season following his injury because the team was far out of the playoffs.
"He realized that this trade meant that we're not going to run this race and we're not even going to finish the race properly and he decided not to play anymore," Valentine said Oct. 23 in an interview on "Costas Tonight" on NBC Sports Network. "I think at that time it was all downhill from there."
Valentine also said that the trade of players Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto the day after the injury contributed to it as well.
Finally on Monday Ortiz responded to the comments in an interview with ESPNDeportes.com.
"Stopping me (from playing) was the decision of the doctors, management, the manager and me," Ortiz told ESPNDeportes.com. "The team doctor recommended that I stop playing to not make the situation worse for the tendon."
Ortiz remained quiet about the comments while working on his now official two-year deal with the team.
"No. 1, never bite the hand that feeds you, because in the end that will come back to bite you," Ortiz said. "I was one of those players that always showed support for him. In fact, I held a couple of player meetings.
"No. 2, the day that I returned from the DL, I told him that I was not sure what percentage health-wise I was in, but that I could not be out there without trying to help. When I told him that, I put my career on the side to help him and the team. Being in an incredible amount of pain, I went out there to support them.
"No. 3, after he went on national TV to say what he said, he sent me a text message trying to tell me that it was the media trying to change things. I did not respond to the message and I said to myself, this guy must have some mental issues or needs medicine or something? I said, I am dealing with someone crazy and I am not going to drive myself crazy, so it is better if I leave it alone."
Valentine never got comfortable with the team or the media and the red Sox finished with a 69-93 record, the worst in decades. Despite having a top 10-ranked team batting average, the team ended up last in the American League East.
"I am a player that has the game in his blood," he said. "In the 10 years that I have (been) in Boston, I have been the soul of the organization and there has never been a second where David Ortiz being able to go on the field and do what he does has decided to stay seated."
According to ESPN Boston: "Since his arrival in Boston prior to the 2003 season, Ortiz has spent the last 10 seasons becoming one of the best DHs in the game. He has a .290 career average with the Red Sox, including 343 homers and 1,088 RBIs."
Ortiz expects to rebound after fully recovering in the off-season. Ortiz is the last connection on the team to the 2004 championship squad.
