Skip to content

Pedro: Ortiz is too smart to waste his time at home

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

David Ortiz has told fans and media repeatedly this offseason that he's hung up his spikes for good.

One of his greatest friends in the game, however, isn't buying it.

Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez played two seasons alongside Ortiz with the Boston Red Sox between 2003-04, developing a closely knit friendship with the slugger during their playing days. Few other players know Ortiz as well as Martinez, who feels "Big Papi" still has some fuel left in the tank, despite announcing his retirement this winter.

"David says he's retired," Martinez said Saturday on WEEI's Trenni and Tomase radio program. "But I still believe David is going to give it another try. I don’t know why I have that feeling that David might want to do that. I just don’t see David, having the type of season that he had, and having the success that he was still having, sitting at home wasting it. David is too smart.

"I still believe David is going to feel the little itch of coming back to spring training."

Related: Ortiz: Pedro saved my career with Red Sox

Though he slashed .315/.401/.620 (1.021 OPS) with 38 home runs in 151 games with Boston last season, Ortiz has had to shut down numerous claims this offseason that he's planning a comeback.

The 41-year-old recently admitted his playing time was "expired," though Martinez imagines his best-before date will run out as spring approaches.

"Because imagine, I'm one of his closest friends," Martinez said. "And I'm going to have to come to spring training, so he's going to be left in the Dominican alone. I know that he needs some time off. If he stays at home with his wife, his kids, it's going to get boring sooner or later, and I believe he's going to come over. I think the toughest thing is going to be when he finds himself with so much time, and not having a regimen to follow.

"That's going to be really difficult for David, a man that's used to swinging the bat 500 times a day, mingling with his friends and teammates and all that. It's just going to be difficult."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox