Boston, MA

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz responded to former manager Bobby Valentine's accusation that he quit on the team, saying doctors stopped him from playing so as not to worsen his Achilles injury.

"Stopping me (from playing) was the decision of the doctors, management, the manager and me," Ortiz told ESPN.com. "The team doctor recommended that I stop playing to not make the situation worse for the tendon."

Ortiz made the clarification during the team's official announcement on the slugger's return to the team. The veteran designated hitter will get a two-year deal worth at least $26 million.

Valentine, during an interview on Costas Tonight, insinuated that Ortiz missed the latter part of the season not because of soreness from an Achilles injury but because his team was out of the playoff hunt.

After the interview, Valentine told Ortiz in a text message that the media was trying to change things. The slugger decided ignored it, saying he thought he was dealing with someone with "some mental issues."

"I did not respond to the message and I said to myself, this guy must have some mental issues or needs medicine or something? I said, I am dealing with someone crazy and I am not going to drive myself crazy, so it is better if I leave it alone," Ortiz said.

Ortiz also disclosed that he was one of the players that had shown support to Valentine, even holding several player meetings to rally behind their manager.

Under his new contract, Ortiz will make $14 million in 2013 and $11 million in 2014, and will get a $1 million signing bonus with performance incentives that could bring the total value to $30 million, according to a team source.

Last season, Ortiz made $14.575 million on a one-year deal.

An eight-time All-Star who turns 37 on Nov. 18, Ortiz was having a productive 2012 before he suffered a right Achilles strain in July.

The injury limited Ortiz to only one more game the rest of the season and he finished with a .318 average, 23 home runs and 60 RBIs in 90 games.

After spending six seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Ortiz arrived in Boston in 2003 and became one of the best DH in the game, tallying a .290 career average with the Red Sox, including 343 homers and 1,088 RBIs.

 

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