BOSTON -- Now that the Boston Red Sox have John Farrell in place as their new manager, general manager Ben Cherington can turn his attention to free agent designated hitter David Ortiz.
The sides have been talking and that should intensify now. Ortiz believes a deal could be done soon.
"We're talking," Ortiz said. "We'll be talking again sometime this week and hopefully everything goes well. It seems like they want to move forward and now that they have the manager locked up, we're going to figure it out and hopefully it gets done.
"Hopefully we get it done by the end of the World Series."
It's no secret Ortiz wants to end his career in Boston and wants a multiyear deal, although it seems he'd be content with two years.
"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 missed 71 of Boston's final 72 games due to a right Achilles strain, but said Sunday he's feeling much better and will be able to begin his normal offseason workout regimen soon.
Before suffering the injury on July 16, Ortiz was in the midst of a productive season. He finished with a .318 average with 23 home runs and 60 RBIs in 90 games.
Cherington has made it clear that he would like to re-sign Ortiz and would like to get it done soon and not let negotiations drag on during the winter like they did a year ago, when Ortiz eventually signed a one-year deal worth $14.58 million.
"David is someone who we feel strongly about bringing back, and we're trying to figure out a way to do that and we hope that happens," Cherington said on the last day of the season in New York.