David Ortiz wins Home Run Derby – wants new multi-year contract
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The newly crowed All-Star Home Run Derby winner, David Ortiz, is making it publicly known that he wants a new contract, and something longer than one year.
“I’m going to tell you, I ain’t going nowhere,” Ortiz said. “I don’t want one year. Why should I return for one year and go through the same [stuff] I’m going through now, just because it’s my last year? No. I like to be left alone when I’m playing baseball. I know how to clean my [stuff] up.”
Ortiz, 34, has a team option for $12.5 million for the 2011 season with no buyout and he does not want to return under those circumstances.
According to club sources close to Gorden Edes of ESPNBoston.com, no negotiations have taken place with Ortiz regarding his contract option or the possibility of an extension. The source said it is unlikely that anything will happen until the season is over.
Edes said that if the Red Sox were to decide to negotiate an extension, they would likely offer a base salary that is lower than the team option of $12.5 million with incentives that would allow Ortiz to match or exceed that figure if he met certain levels.
Last year’s market for designated hitters was not too good. Vladimir Guerrero signed a deal for $6.5 million with the Texas Rangers and has a $9 million mutual option for 2011. Hideki Matsui signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ortiz is going into the All-Star break with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs with a .945 OPS, but that’s after a very slow start. The slugger was hitting .185 as recently as May 10.

