David Ortiz, Jonathan Papelbon: To Sign or Not to Sign, That Is the Question

Jonathan Papelbon and David Ortiz have a lot in common.

Both are beloved by Red Sox Nation; both have spent the better part of the past decade in Boston; both are going to be free agents come season's end. 

With the Red Sox success so far in 2011 after a rough 2010 for both players, the question of worth arises. 

Is it worth paying an exorbitant amount to retain one of the top closers in baseball?

Is it worth re-signing an aging DH who may revert to his start-of-2010 form at any moment?

Is it worth listening to Neil Diamond at every Sox game ever?

At least I know the answer to that last question; the other two are a bit more perplexing.

Both players are loved in Boston. For Ortiz, it is because of his charisma. It is impossible to look at that ear-to-ear grin as he trots out of the dugout and not crack a smile yourself. He has also been one of the most clutch hitters ever and bombs some of the most powerful home runs in baseball.

Papelbon is much less charismatic, but his fire on the mound is matched by none. Well, maybe Brian Wilson's beard, but I've heard it doesn't like Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, so Papelbon has it beat there.

This issue has a lot of faces to look at, so I'll go over each player individually.

Pap first, then Papi.  

Jonathan Papelbon: He Wants to Cash in

The Red Sox tried to sign their fiery closer to an extension—he said no.

The franchise record holder for career saves wanted to test the waters of free agency—something he has never gotten the chance to do in his seven major league seasons.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, this means someone will overpay for him.

On most teams, it would be a no-brainer to spend however much is necessary on your homegrown top-flight closer. This is especially true when that closer is 27 of 28 in save opportunities with just over 40 games left to play on the season.

For the Red Sox, this is not the case.

With Daniel Bard trotting out of the bullpen and slinging 100 MPH heaters on command, the need to overpay for any reliever is slightly diminished. If there is another team in baseball more prepared to replace a hall-of-fame-caliber closer, please don't hesitate to shout it out. I'd love to hear it.

In the end, Red Sox nation loves Jonathan Papelbon. They love his fire, they love his attitude, they love his success. That is, unless he has another season like 2010, in which he blows eight saves and has a ballooned ERA of close to 4.00.

The Red Sox will offer Pap a contract, but they will not match the suitors who are willing to pay exorbitant amounts. The Angels are a team I wouldn't be surprised to see jump in with a high number, if for no other reason than to get back at the team who stole Carl Crawford out from under them last year.

If this is the case, I say let him go and see what develops from that first-round compensatory pick. 

David Ortiz: He Just Wants to Play

David Ortiz is one of the most beloved members of Red Sox Nation—steroid allegations aside—and watching him finish his career with any other team name across his chest would be difficult for most fans to cope with. 

That said, the Red Sox have never been a team to overpay veterans simply to keep them around. You saw this with Mo Vaughn, Nomar Garciaparra, Johnny Damon and there is the possibility Ortiz takes the same road. 

By the end of April last season, many thought Ortiz was done. He couldn't get around on the inside fastball like he was always able to in his career, and the power just didn't seem to be there. He almost seemed to be reverting to the warning-track power/line-drive hitter that was released by Minnesota back in 2002.

Ortiz bounced back, however, and did so in a big way. He finished the season with 32 home runs and 102 RBI. Ortiz is on pace for similar numbers this year, but one has to wonder how much longer the big slugger can keep it up before his body breaks down.

Ortiz has been a designated hitter for virtually his entire career, so he is a young 35-year-old in that sense. However, a young 35-year-old is still turning 36 next year.

The sentimental thought here would be to try to sign Ortiz to short-term contracts until he decides to hang up the cleats, but from a team perspective it might not be in Boston's best interest.

Professional designated hitters don't exist on most teams. They use the position to rest players while still keeping a strong bat in the lineup. On the current Red Sox, this is impossible.

The other issue is that Ortiz is not going to want to play the short-term contract game. He will likely want four years—a length that is way too long for a team dedicated to building from within and staying youthful.

Dear Theo: Say Goodbye and Good Luck

I may be jumping the gun on this topic a bit, but Theo Epstein has never been one to wrap himself emotionally into any players; he is about improving, not stagnating. 

If there is a better option, whether it be fiscal or talent-wise, he is almost always going to make the right decision. The money is there to be spent, but it is spent when it is necessary, not to appease the egos of star players. 

Not all of these decisions have been spectacular: JD Drew and Daisuke Matsuzaka are two monumental busts that come to mind. But Adrian Gonzalez has turned out to be worth every cent. That is how Epstein operates. He takes calculated risks based on statistical history and development, not how dedicated the player has been to the franchise.

For example: had Derek Jeter played his entire career with the Red Sox and not the Yankees, one of two things would be happening this season. He would be in the outfield, or on another team. This is how it works in Boston.

The goal is not to insult players. It probably sounds as if I'm condoning some sort of rash, "see you later" tactic, as a long-time hero and fan favorite is ushered out of town. That is not the case.

Both players should be offered fair contracts. In Papelbon's case, somewhere in the neighborhood of four years at $48 million—a boost from what he is making now, but nothing out of control.

Ortiz should be offered nothing more than two years and $25 million.

These offers should be placed on the table; if neither wants to play ball, shake hands and walk away. Free agency exists for a reason. If a player was truly dedicated to a team, nickel and diming the organization shouldn't be the most important thing. It should not be just the ownership that has to show loyalty to a player; that player should at least give some of that loyalty back.

It would be tough to see either player walk, but the Red Sox would survive and likely improve if that were the case.