David Ortiz never has been shy about vocalizing what he wants. And what he wants is for the Boston Red Sox to be good, both this season and beyond.
Ortiz, as usual, was in the spotlight Tuesday in San Diego, getting a standing ovation after exiting Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game for the final time. Shortly following his appearance, the Red Sox slugger used that spotlight essentially as a forum to lobby for two players he believes Boston should acquire.
First up: Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who could become available ahead of MLB’s Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.
“He has incredible stuff,” Ortiz said of Fernandez in a press conference Tuesday, via the Boston Herald. “I thought he was going to end up playing with me this year. I mean, you never know. I want him in my starting rotation. I mean, we need a little bit of help and hopefully that happens at some point, who knows?”
We hope Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is taking notes. The 23-year-old Fernandez obviously would come with a very high price tag and likely cost Boston at least one top prospect, but he’d be a great addition to the Red Sox’s rotation — even if he lied to Ortiz about grooving him fastballs at the All-Star Game.
Big Papi didn’t stop his sales pitch there, however, lobbying for Dombrowski and Co. to sign Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion — who will become a free agent this offseason — as Ortiz’s replacement when he retires after the season.
“The Red Sox know that they need to reinforce the middle of the lineup,” Ortiz said. “And sorry Blue Jays, but who better than Encarnacion to do that?”
The Large Father has spoken. Now, we’ll see if the Red Sox heed his words.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
