David Ortiz

Ortiz was once again Boston's most dangerous hitter, belting 35 homers and knocking in 104 runs for a team that was challenged offensively for much of the season. He got a contract extension early on and is in the final year of his current deal. Whether it's his final season of baseball is yet to be determined. The Red Sox would be comfortable bringing him back on one-year deals as long as he's hitting. And if he hits in 2015, he could put up bigger power numbers, as the lineup figures to be much better. In addition to bolstering his RBI and runs scored totals, teams won't have the luxury of pitching around him. Another year in the middle of Boston's batting order is in store for Ortiz.

Ortiz capped off an impressive regular season (.309/.395/.564, 30 HR, 103 RBI) by hitting .352 in the postseason (.688 in World Series) with five homers, 13 RBI and being named MVP of the World Series. His success made us completely forget that he entered the season on the disabled list, still hobbled by an Achilles' injury that ended his 2012 season prematurely. At age 38, health is the only concern. Ortiz remains one of the game's most feared hitters. He'll return for the final year of his current contract and be Boston's designated hitter and the team's biggest middle-of-the order threat.

Ortiz turned back the clock in 2012, putting up numbers like he did during that stretch from 2004 to 2007 when he was regularly getting votes for MVP. An Achilles injury cut short his season, but the Red Sox made sure to re-sign Ortiz, who had been working on one-year contracts the last two seasons, to a two-year deal. Ortiz is happy for the team's commitment, while the team is happy to retain a popular player, after the character of the team has been questioned the last few years. In terms of his skill set, Ortiz continues to show a good eye at the plate (15% walk rate) and a steady ability to make regular contact (84%), making him a valuable option despite the fact he remains eligible only as a utility/DH option in most leagues after appearing in just seven games at first base in 2012.

After consecutive seasons that started poorly, Ortiz was good from April to the end of the 2011 season. He's a middle-of-the-order bat and is the premier designated hitter in the game. Ortiz accepted Boston's offer of salary arbitration, so he's tied to the team for one more season at least. The negotiations will work themselves out, but the Red Sox will look to keep the years to a minimum. At 2011 levels, Ortiz is a no-brainer every day in the lineup. If age creeps in and he becomes less threatening, he'll clog lineup flexibility should, say, Kevin Youkilis need to curtail a full-time role as a third baseman at any point in the next few seasons. Whatever happens, biology makes it harder and harder for players at Ortiz's age to sustain 2011 levels.

The Red Sox picked up the team option on Ortiz for the 2011 season after he rebounded from a disappointing 2009 season. Actually, Ortiz's 2010 season was remarkably similar to 2009, in that he rebounded following a horrendous April. In 2010, he rebounded sooner and hit for a higher average. The poor starts are certainly alarming and factor into the reasoning behind not giving him a long-term commitment. There's no doubt he's entering his decline years, but 30 homers and 100 RBI at age 34 is still very good power production, and overall he was among the team's best hitters. Now with a threatening bat behind him in the order in Adrian Gonzalez, Ortiz should be good for similar power production in 2011.

Ortiz suffered the worst slump of his career to start the 2009 season, failing to hit his first home run until mid-May while scuffling below the Mendoza line through June. Things got worse in July when his name surfaced as one of 100-plus players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. Big Papi eventually posted very respectable power numbers, but the belief that he's on the downside of his career has already set in. The good news is that Ortiz was relatively healthy after injuring his wrist in 2008, and suffering nagging injuries in 2007. With the team holding an option for 2011, this could be his final year with Boston.

Ortiz suffered a serious wrist injury during the middle of the season, which stayed with him upon his return to action in the second half. In addition to the wrist injury, Ortiz lost Manny Ramirez as his protection in the batting order, resulting in his lowest batting average and power numbers since coming to Boston in 2003. He would like to see the club add another big bat to the lineup, which could serve as a Ramirez surrogate. Expect Ortiz to be better in 2009 after an offseason of rehab, but you should be aware of potential breakdowns as he enters his age-33 season. Big Papi has now suffered shoulder, knee and wrist injuries during the last two seasons.

Despite being visibly hobbled by knee problems for much of the 2007 season, Ortiz still turned in the type of year that has kept him in perpetual MVP discussion for the better part of this century. His .332 average represented a career high, as did Ortiz's stellar 1.066 OPS in 2007. His .445 OBP was also a career high, bolstered by 111 walks. While Big Papi's home-run numbers fell (57 in 2006 to 35 in 2007), the fact that Ortiz hit 17 of those homers in August and September should serve as an encouraging sign to all fantasy owners. In fact, Ortiz's entire second half was one for the ages, with 21 home runs, 65 RBI and a .352 average after the All-Star break. Ortiz also added another dimension to his offensive arsenal in 2007 with 52 doubles. Ortiz's numbers in 2008 could prove even better, especially if he puts his knee troubles behind him, and turns some of those doubles into home runs. Ortiz is the complete package, and shows no sign of slowing down.

Ortiz put up one of baseball's all-time great seasons in 2006. His 54 home runs were a Red Sox team record, and he led the American League in RBI (137) and walks (119), while placing near the top of the AL in slugging percentage (.636, 2nd), OBP (.413, 6th), runs (115, 4th), and OPS (1.049, 3rd). Nearly all of these numbers represented career highs for the talented Ortiz. His home runs, walks, OPS and slugging have increased every year for the past five years. Even those who have called Ortiz a product of Fenway Park were quieted by his 32 road home runs. More importantly, Ortiz's production has tended to improve as games become more important—his clutch hitting has become the stuff of legend. Ortiz is a hitter with no weaknesses, and we see no reason—other than the Red Sox trading away Manny Ramirez, his protection in the order—that he won't have another spectacular year in ‘07.

The big concern heading into the 2005 season is whether Ortiz will have a threat that can hit behind him. Manny Ramirez, who has been ideal in that role, has requested a trade and could be moved. Big Papi is still a threat without Ramirez behind him, but he received more walks last season than any other in his career and will certainly draw more if the Red Sox don't find a competent power hitter to protect him in the batting order.

Big Papi is truly the MVP of the Red Sox, both in the clubhouse and on the field. He proved his 2003 season was no fluke and will continue to thrive in Boston's lineup as their cleanup hitter.

Ortiz was one of the more important players for Boston in 2003, first in the clubhouse, then later on the field. He was one of several players to have career years, and got some well-deserved consideration for MVP. Like Kevin Millar and Bill Mueller, Ortiz does not have a history of the sort of production he posted in 2003. Bid appropriately.

Ortiz finally stayed healthy enough to get 400-plus at bats and produced 20 HRs and 75 RBI. He struggled against lefties again, hitting just .203. As a result, he's only the left-handed part of a platoon at DH and thus limited in value to his employer. He'll fight for playing time with Jeremy Giambi and Kevin Millar at DH and 1B.