Red Sox Finalize $1.25 Million Deal With Ortiz

BOSTON (AP) David Ortiz's $1.25 million, one-year contract with the Red Sox was finalized on Wednesday, giving Boston a veteran left-handed hitter who will compete with Jeremy Giambi for a lineup spot.

Ortiz, who hit .272 for Minnesota last season while recovering from injuries, said he was looking forward to getting off the artificial turf at Minnesota and playing on Fenway Park's natural surface.

"What really was killing me was the turf at Minnesota," Ortiz said. "I'm not the only player at Minnesota that was having problems with it."

The Red Sox signed Jeremy Giambi last month, but general manager Theo Epstein said Ortiz would have a chance to compete for the everyday job. Boston decided not to keep first basemen Brian Daubach and Tony Clark.

"David has shown the ability in the past to also hit left-handed pitching, not every year but he's shown he can do it," Epstein said. "The upside is him as an everyday player."

Ortiz is a career .266 hitter over six seasons in Minnesota, his career hampered by injuries. He would have faced competition from Doug Mientkiewicz had he tried to stay in Minnesota.

"This game is a business too," Ortiz said. "When you're in a small market, you have to go for the player that will not cost you too much and that's what they did. I was very upset at first but now I understand that."

Epstein said the Red Sox were still looking for "another right-handed bat" but "we're getting close to the point where what you see is what you're going to get in spring training."

Ortiz said Red Sox pitcher and fellow Dominican Pedro Martinez had played a big role in persuading him to come to Boston.

"Pedro's like a father to me," he said. "Pedro, he gave us (a good example), how to work hard, get to the top."