BOSTON (AP) — Former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine says David Ortiz spent more time than expected on the disabled list then returned to it after playing one game when the team made a major trade that signaled it would not compete for a postseason berth.
Valentine made his remarks in an interview with NBC’s Bob Costas airing several hours after John Farrell was introduced as Boston’s new manager on Tuesday.
Ortiz was at Fenway Park on Tuesday and spoke to Farrell amid reports that he and the team were closing in on a two-year deal to keep the potential free agent in Boston. Ortiz missed 71 of the last 72 games with a strained right Achilles and hit .318 with 23 homers and 60 RBIs in 90 games. He played Aug. 24, one day before the Red Sox traded Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
