It's not taking new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine much time to get down to business in his new job, and one of his first acts will be to head south to chat up a free-agent slugger.
The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reports that Valentine is headed for the Dominican Republic to chat with free-agent slugger David Ortiz. The designated hitter is currently in his native country to host his annual charity golf tournament. Abraham, who is in the Dominican as well, also says that Valentine will be participating in the tournament.
"I haven't talked to Bobby [since he became manager] but I hope I will," Ortiz told the Globe on Friday afternoon.
Ortiz has insisted throughout the offseason that he would prefer to return to Boston, and upon the official introduction of Valentine as Red Sox manager Thursday, the slugger didn't give much of an opinion of the hire.
"I don't know," Ortiz told the Globe on Thursday when asked about what the hiring of Valentine would mean to the club. "We'll see. … Hopefully I'll get to find out."
