Red Sox GM
Ben Cherington didn't mince any words. When
asked if the team had discussed contract with David Ortiz beyond this year—the DH's last that's
guaranteed—he was pretty direct. Said Cherington,
"David knows he's going to be a Red Sox as long as he wants to be a Red Sox." Any questions? If he stay healthy and accumulates at least 425 plate appearances (he had over 600 last year), the 2016 contract provisions automatically kick in. We'll see if the issue of a
guaranteed extension is a topic that comes up at all during Spring Training.