Tag Archives: Ben Cherington

Ali Sánchez Agrees to 1-Year Deal with Pittsburgh Pirates

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Ali Sánchez is battening down the hatches…

The 26-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball catcher has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving the team another player to throw in the mix behind the plate with Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis.

Ali SánchezSánchez spent last season with Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno, hitting .311 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 67 games. He also threw out 22 baserunners.

Sánchez has appeared in seven Major League Baseball (MLB) games, five for the New York Mets in 2020 and two for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.

While Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has insisted that Davis, the top overall pick in the 2021 draft, will get a chance at catcher, Sánchez’s arrival gives Pittsburgh flexibility at the position. Davis played primarily in right field after making his major league debut in June.

The Pirates also claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Munoz off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Muñoz, 23, went a combined 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA in 34 appearances at multiple levels of the minors in 2023.

Ortiz Gets Contract Extension with the Boston Red Sox

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David Ortiz will be seeing red (sox) for another season…

The 38-year-old Dominican professional baseball player, nicknamed “Big Papi” has reached an agreement with the Boston Red Sox to keep the iconic slugger on the team through the end of his career.

David Ortiz

Ortiz has reportedly agreed to a $16 million extension for the 2015 season, a $1 million bump from the $15 million he will be paid in 2014.

Also in place is a club/vesting option for the 2016 season that will automatically kick in if Ortiz achieves a certain number of plate appearances, and a club option for 2017. If the option years are fulfilled, Ortiz will remain under Red Sox control into his 40s — he turns 42 on Nov. 18, 2017, the final year of the deal.

The team announced the extension and option years Sunday night.

“With this agreement, we have near certainty that David Ortiz will finish his career in a Red Sox uniform, which is something we have all wanted and that we are all proud of,” owner John Henry said in a statement. “It is difficult to describe David’s contributions to our city both on the field and off the field, and we are so proud to have this ambassador of our game with us as he continues on this road to Cooperstown.”

There has been little doubt throughout camp that the Red Sox would sign Ortiz to an extension, with both the player and club ownership expressing a desire to strike an agreement. Ortiz’s agent, Fernando Cuza, came for face-to-face negotiations with general manager Ben Cherington and CEO Larry Lucchino on multiple occasions, including Sunday.

Martinez Returning to Boston Red Sox in Special Role

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Former Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez is heading back to Beantown…

The 41-year-old Dominican born baseball star, an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2004 World Series champion, is returning to the organization as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington.

Pedro Martinez

Martinez, who joins former catcher Jason Varitek in that capacity, said he plans to dedicate his time to developing players and collaborating with team brass.

“I’ve been away long enough now,” said Martinez. “I spent time with my family, and now the situation is right. I think they need people like me that could probably relate to the players, relate to the front office, have the good communication and the interest that they need right now. I think the players still see me as a player and they can naturally communicate with me. I’m also a veteran, a real old veteran and I think I can offer some advice how to handle different situations.”

In particular, Martinez will spend time mentoring the team’s young pitchers.

“I love to teach. I love to deal with the players,” he said. “I have a very good relationship with the players and I’m also fun. I like to have and I think they need a little bit of that in the clubhouse.”

Though he said a comeback was out of the question — “Don’t even think about me coming back,” he said — he’s looking forward to getting his “nose dirty.”

“I miss the field,” said Martinez. “Once I get on the field, I’m going to get involved and get going. I like the field. I like the feel of the sun, sweating on the field and hopefully some of the knowledge I have I’ll be able to communicate to someone and have someone take advantage of it.”

Martinez spent seven seasons in Boston (1998-2004), winning two of his three Cy Young Awards and a World Series ring during his time with the Red Sox. He went 117-37 (a franchise-best .760 winning percentage) with a 2.52 ERA in his seven seasons with the Red Sox, leading the league in ERA four times in that span.

Martinez left the Red Sox after the 2004 season to sign with the Mets, for whom he pitched four more seasons. His final season in the majors was 2009 with the Phillies.

“I am thrilled to be returning to this organization and to the city I love,” Martinez said in a statement. “Ben Cherington’s meetings this week have been outstanding. It is an honor to be back with the Red Sox and help in any way I can. I am grateful to our leaders; I believe in them, and I thank them for allowing me to return to the field and help us win again. My heart will always live in Boston.”

Ortiz ThisClose to Signing Deal to Stay with the Boston Red Sox

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It appears David Ortiz may not be emptying out his locker room anytime soon…

The 36-year-old Dominican baseball star is thisclose to closing a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, a deal that the team hopes to finalize before the end of the week, according to ESPN.

David Ortiz

The two-year term – something that was of utmost importance to the Ortiz – already has been agreed upon, sources said Tuesday, but both sides were still haggling on compensation.

Ortiz is believed to be seeking $25 million. The Red Sox are in that neighborhood, but hope to sign him for a few million less, according to the source, who noted the monetary negotiations aren’t expected to get in the way of the deal’s completion.

“As I said, we want to have David back,” general manager Ben Cherington said Tuesday. “We’ve had good, amicable dialogue. I talked to Fernando (Cuza, Ortiz’s agent) yesterday. We’ll continue to keep talking. Our hope is to get something done. I’m sure we’ll talk again this week sometime.”

The Red Sox hope to announce the extension as soon as Friday, the first off day of the World Series. The league frowns upon teams announcing news on days of World Series games.

Ortiz, who made $14.575 million on a one-year deal struck on the same day his arbitration case was scheduled to be held this past February, missed 71 of Boston’s final 72 games because of a right Achilles strain. He told ESPNBoston.com on Sunday that he’s feeling much better and will begin his normal offseason workout regimen soon.

“I’m 36, and I know what I’m capable to do,” Ortiz said. “I know what’s fair and I know guys my age aren’t going to get three-, four- or five-year deals anymore, so I want to play two more, and if things go good, I’ll continue to play.”

Ortiz was having one of the best years of his career before the injury, hitting .318 with 23 homers, 60 RBIs and a 1.026 OPS in 90 games.

He’s the longest-tenured player on the Red Sox, having played in Boston over the past 10 seasons.