Money is the sticking point as progress in the talks has stalled.
Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz will become a free agent at midnight Friday if a new contract is not signed, and that looks likely.That almost-done deal between David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox?
It's not done yet. Boston.com reports it's not even close.
It's looking likely Ortiz will become a free agent at midnight Friday, the deadline for teams to have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents. He could still sign with Boston after that deadline.
Ortiz had hoped to have a contract done by the end of the World Series, which could have lasted until Thursday. He has been asking for a two-year deal of between $25 million and $30 million.
The Red Sox have reportedly been comfortable with the two-year length, but want to pay substantially less in salary. No media reports have targeted what that specifically means.
Ortiz played last year for one season and $14.575 million. If a deal is not struck by midnight Friday, Boston is expected to file a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer, which would afford the Red Sox a draft pick if Ortiz later signed with another team.