David Ortiz not playing in the Red Sox’s first 10 spring training games is no surprise as he comes back from the Achilles’ tendon injury that wrecked his 2012 season, but the fact that he still has soreness is potentially a reason to worry.
Manager John Farrell told Maureen Mullen of CNSNE.com that Ortiz will have to run the bases on back-to-back days before he’s cleared for game action, but he was sore enough after doing so Saturday that he canceled Sunday’s scheduled session.
As part of his two-year contract Ortiz’s 2014 salary can rise from $11 million to $15 million if he spends fewer than 20 days on the disabled list due to the Achilles’ tendon injury this season. He’ll make $14 million this year.
