FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz showed at various times in 2010 that he was, at the very least, thinking about the possibility of heading into an offseason of uncertainty.
In the last year of his contract, Ortiz made it clear he did not want the Red Sox to pick up a one-year, $12 million contract, and would rather get to talking about a two-year deal.
This spring, as he once again enters a contract year, Ortiz is singing a different tune.
“No, I’m just focusing on playing baseball right now,” he said Thursday. “Right now, my goal is to have a good start.”
Those slow starts have hurt Ortiz the last three years. He has been able to rebound each season, and recovered enough in 2010 to hit .270 with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs. It was his best season since 2007, the first year of his four-year deal, which became five years once the organization exercised its option.
“They did what they were capable of at the time,” Ortiz said of the decision on the option. “It’s a new year, new expectations.”
As for management, there are no concerns over any in-season distractions.
“I don’t think it will be an issue at all,” general manager Theo Epstein said. “He was in the same situation last year. I don’t see any contractual distractions on the horizon for us.”
