The 35-year-old batted .309, hit 40 doubles and posted a .953 OPS, his best numbers since 2007. He hit 29 homers, drove in 96 runs and answered almost all of the questions that dogged him in ’09 and ’10. Most importantly, he hit .329 against lefties. He even stole a base for good measure.
Ortiz has the choice to enter free agency, and he said he wants to be back in Boston. The designated hitter represents one of the biggest decisions facing new general manager Ben Cherington.
“If the Red Sox sign me right now, they won’t regret [it],” Ortiz told ESPN.com’s Joe McDonald. “I’ve got so many ways to keep doing what I’ve been doing around here. I bring so much to this organization. I bring so much to the table here because I care so much about this organization.”
Despite his 36th birthday approaching next month, Ortiz doesn’t doubt his ability going forward and said he’s already begun his offseason workouts.
“I like to be good at what I do. I’m telling you right now, I’ve got a lot of baseball left,” Ortiz told McDonald. “I don’t have to be working out right now, but I like to compete. I like to do good. I want to walk into training camp looking good, feeling good and ready to go. With my job I want to get better every day.”
The DH also made the case for the Sox to sign Jonathan Papelbon, saying if they don’t, it would be “a big mistake.”
“This guy is legit, dude,” Ortiz said of Papelbon.
