Published: Dec. 7, 2011 at 10:32 PM

BOSTON, Dec. 7 (UPI) — The Boston Red Sox announced Wednesday designated hitter David Ortiz had agreed to arbitration, which will keep him with the team for at least another season.

An arbitrated contract means Ortiz will likely make more than the $12.5 million he earned last season. The Red Sox and Ortiz could still work out a multiyear deal before the arbitration hearing is held.

Ortiz, 36, has been in Boston since 2003. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and 2007 with him in the lineup.

Although his power numbers have diminished, he hit 29 home runs with 96 RBI last season.

Ortiz has hit at least 25 home runs for Boston eight times, putting him second on the team’s all-time list behind Ted Williams (14).

There have been recent reports the Red Sox have offered Ortiz a two-year contract worth $9 million a season. Ortiz has reportedly asked for more than twice that monetary amount over two years.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz accepted the team’s offer for salary arbitration, according to the team’s official web site.

With a few hours left before Wednesday’s midnight deadline, Ortiz’s representatives informed the Red Sox that the slugger had accepted the club’s offer of arbitration, according to boston.redsox.mlb.com.

Though the acceptance of arbitration guarantees Ortiz will return to the Red Sox for one more season, the designated hitter still has hopes of getting a multiyear deal before the process ends in January.

In arbitration, Ortiz would get a raise from the $12.5 million salary he earned in 2011, perhaps making as much as $14 million to $15 million. The Red Sox had offered him a two-year, $18 million deal.

The decision by Ortiz to remain with the Red Sox came hours after he was named the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter for the sixth time in his career, and first since 2007.

“Well, when you have someone who wins an individual award and honor the previous season, you’re always excited about him being on the team, and last year David – I guess it’s just been announced, he’s the DH of the year, and how could I not be excited about having the DH of the year as a DH?” Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said.

Ortiz. 36, hit .309 with 29 home runs last year. He also re-established his ability to hit left-handed pitching.

BOSTON (CBS) – Been an interesting time around the Boston Red Sox. The introductory press conference for Bobby Valentine reminded me of the Daisuke Matsuzaka presser. Lots of fanfare and hype.

I have two quick thoughts on the Valentine hiring and then we’ll look ahead to the Winter Meetings and the remainder of the Sox offseason.

1)  –  Many fans have praised the Red Sox ownership group for the way they have done things since arriving in 2002. John Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, Theo Epstein, Ben Cherington and others would debate, argue, and dissect each and every major decision that the Boston Red Sox made when it came to putting together a team. And, it worked quite well with a pair of World Series titles.

There would be differences. John Henry admitted that he was not a fan of signing Carl Crawford. Ben Cherington said he pushed hard for it. In the end, Theo and the Baseball Ops guys won out as the Sox inked Crawford to a 7 year, 142-million dollar contract.

Meanwhile, in this recent managerial search we watched as Ben Cherington presented the ownership group with Dale Sveum. The ownership group wanted someone with experience in a big league dugout. A disagreement. In the end, Ben, John, Tom and Larry agreed on Bobby Valentine. I’m sure there was plenty of debate over the choice. But, a choice was made after the normal process the Sox have used.

It’s ok to do business that way.

2) — As for the choice of Bobby Valentine? I like it. Clearly, this 2011 historical collapse was on the players. They are the ones who will have to hit Spring Training determined not to let it happen again. It’s all on them. They will be the ones who either succeed or fail.

If you put a manager in there with no experience it would almost be a distraction to the players. How would he handle things on and off the field? Does he really know what’s right? He would be feeling his way through things.

Meanwhile, Valentine has been there done that. He knows what it takes to win on the big league level. He’s seen a lot. Nothing should faze him. He knows how to handle himself in the dugout. If his players go out and perform he will win. If they don’t, he won’t and will eventually be gone.

Bottom line, I think this group needed an experienced manager.

WINTER MEETINGS

Ben Cherington has some work to do now that he has a manager. Time to fix his roster.

Priority number one will be to re-sign David Ortiz.

Ortiz just turned 36, so Father Time is not on his side. However, he has produced two very good seasons after many had written him off. Last season he hit 29 homers while driving in 96 runs after posting 32 HR and 102 RBI in 2010.

He has to decide whether or not he should accept the Sox offer of arbitration. He has until Wednesday to do that. Last season Ortiz made 12.5-million dollars. He will get a raise to somewhere around $14 million if he accepts. A very good deal for him. He may want more years…..but it will mean less money per season.

If I were the Sox, I would make it simple with David. I give him a one year contract at $14 million with the clause that if he hits 25 home runs and drives in 80 then it kicks in again for the next season. And he can keep doing that for as long as he wants. If he doesn’t, then you part ways.

The Ortiz decision will affect where Ben goes after that. If David returns then you can go out and find a right-handed bat to compliment the right fielder, whether it be Ryan Kalish or Josh Reddick. If David goes elsewhere, Ben may have to find a right-hand-hitting right fielder and then mix and match at the DH position.

Ben also needs to find a closer, although he may not spend the big bucks to get him. After watching Jonathan Papelbon (Philly) and Heath Bell (Miami Marlins) sign for big bucks, Ben told me that the Red Sox will have a closer on Opening Day. And, even though he said that, Ryan Franklin was the St Louis Cardinals closer on Opening Day last season and was nowhere to be found when the Cards won the World Series in October.

Cherington also needs to find some pitching…both starting and relieving. What the markets…free agency and trades…delivers? Who knows.

But at least we’re on to the next phase of the Red Sox offseason. Enjoy the ride……

The Boston Red Sox offered salary arbitration to
designated hitter David Ortiz and right-handed reliever Dan Wheeler.

They announced the moves before Wednesday’s deadline, also declining to offer
arbitration to catcher Jason Varitek, right-handed knuckleballer Tim
Wakefield, left-handed pitchers Erik Bedard and Trever Miller and outfielders
J.D. Drew and Conor Jackson.

Ortiz, 36, has played for the Red Sox since 2003 while Wheeler finished his
first season with the team.

The Sox are eligible to receive compensation for Ortiz, a Type A free agent,
and Wheeler, a Type B free agent. The players have until December 7 to accept
or decline that offer.

Varitek and Wakefield were cornerstones of the team that started a new winning
tradition for the Red Sox, but both are on the downside of their careers.

Varitek, 39, has played all 15 of his major league seasons in Boston and
Wakefield has pitched there since 1995, winning his 200th career game this
past season.

Former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who signed with Philadelphia earlier
this month, was a Type A free agent and will yield Boston compensation.

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The search for a new manager for the Red Sox continues. And reportedly, the Sox are set to interview Dale Sveum again. But they aren’t the only team who has eyes for the Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach. So does Theo Epstein’s new club, the Chicago Cubs.

As for David Ortiz, he claims he wants to be a Red Sox again next season. So if another team makes him an offer, Ortiz insists he will give the Red Sox a chance to match any offer. Asked by a reporter if he wants to play for Boston next season, Ortiz responded, ““Of course. You know that. The Red Sox will always be the first option.”

Ortiz annoyed fans earlier this off season when Big Papi hinted he would love to play for the New York Yankees.

Ortiz’ latest comments came on the heels of the Philadelphia Phillies signing ex-Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year, $50 million deal.

And speaking of Papelbon, the Red Sox are reportedly interested in signing free agent closer Francisco Cordero. Cordero, 36, saved 37 games and had a 2.45 ERA this past season for the Cincinnati Reds.

BOSTON (CBS) – Eight Boston Red Sox officially became free agents on Sunday.

David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, Erik Bedard, Connor Jackson, Trevor Miller, Jonathan Papelbon, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield all filed for free agency on Sunday.

The Red Sox have an exclusive window to negotiate with their free agents until Thursday at 12:01 AM.

The Red Sox have until Nov. 23 to decide whether to offer arbitration to any of their free agents.

Source: Sox Pick Up Scutaro’s Option 

Ortiz and Papelbon are expected to be Type-A free agents, meaning if they are offered arbitration and decline, Boston will get two high draft picks if they sign elsewhere.

New Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has stated he would like to bring both Ortiz and Papelbon back.