Red Sox GM: David Ortiz knows he can stay with team 'as long as he wants'

David Ortiz, the nine-time All-Star who's cavorted in three World Series parades since coming to Boston in 2003, need not worry that he has just one guaranteed season left on his contract with the Red Sox.

"David knows he's going to be a Red Sox (player) as long as he wants to be a Red Sox (player)," general manager Ben Cherington told ESPN's Gordon Edes on Tuesday.

The Red Sox haven't recently approached Ortiz to discuss his future with the club - the 39-year-old's contract has a vesting option for 2016 and a team option for the following season - but Cherington reaffirmed his importance to both the team and the city of Boston.

"There's been no discussion on it recently," Cherington said. "Honestly, we're just happy he's here. He's a huge part of what we're doing on the field. I think, given his stature and personality, I know he means a lot to people off the field, too. He's part of the Red Sox legacy, part of the Boston pro sports legacy. He's also a DH who hits in the middle of the lineup. That's what we're focused on. We're happy to keep him there as long as he keeps doing it. There hasn't been any conversation."

Ortiz's option for next season vests with 425 plate appearances in 2015 - an easily attainable figure barring any serious injury - but his $10-million salary could constitute a bargain considering how he's managed to defy the aging curve.

Only five qualified hitters have managed a greater on-base plus slugging than Ortiz since 2013 - he boasts a gaudy .286/.375/.541 line over that span - and though his batting average dropped considerably last season, he still managed 35 home runs - his most since 2007.