David Ortiz has avoided punishment for making comments about Edwin Encarnacion at last month's All-Star Game in San Diego, as MLB simply reminded the Red Sox designated hitter to abide by the game's tampering rules, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports, citing a source.
Ortiz suggested Boston sign Encarnacion to follow in his footsteps as the team's DH. The sales pitch for the Blue Jays slugger caused quite a stir around baseball and eventually warranted a letter from the league.
"The Red Sox know also they need to bring a force in the middle of the lineup (after I retire),'' the 40-year-old told reporters on Tuesday. "And sorry, Blue Jays, but who better than Encarnacion to do that?''
Ortiz also made similar comments about Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, lobbying for the services of the right-hander.
"He has incredible stuff," Ortiz said. "I thought he was gonna end up playing with me this year. I mean, you never know. I want him in my starting rotation. I mean, we need a little bit of help and hopefully that happens at some point, who knows?"
MLB clearly outlines tampering on page 44 of their rule book, but Ortiz didn't believe what he did was wrong.
"Tampering? I don't write no paycheck," Ortiz explained in July. "I can say whatever I want. I'm not a GM or a team owner or whatever. I mean, if I say tomorrow that I want to play with LeBron James, is that tampering, too?"
