Red Sox keep Papi happy

Associated Press

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	Associated Press Photo Notice there are two smiling faces here: David Ortiz, left, who's $52 million richer after agreeing to a contract extension with the Red Sox, and GM Theo Epstein, who has his top clutch hitter and clubhouse leader locked up at least through the 2010 season.
	Today's Game WHAT: Boston's home opener WHO: Red Sox (Beckett 1-0) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Towers 0-1) WHEN: 2:05 p.m. TELEVISION: NESN FORECAST: 61 degrees, partly cloudy To top of story

BOSTON — David Ortiz agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox on Monday, a deal that will guarantee the American League MVP runner-up about $52 million. The deal keeps his powerful bat, bright smile and sharp wit in Boston's clubhouse without the possibility of him departing after the 2007 season, when Ortiz could have become a free agent. But he said he loves Boston and didn't want to be besieged by suitors.

"You have a lot of people coming right at you," he said during a news conference at Fenway Park. "I feel this is my house and I've got to protect this house."

Ortiz was in the last year of a $12.5 million, two-year extension he signed in May 2004. That deal called for a $6.5 million salary this year and gave Boston an option for 2007 that currently was valued at $8.4 million with a $1.4 million buyout.

His new agreement includes a $2 million signing bonus payable in three installments this year, keeps this year's salary the same and adds annual salaries of $12.5 million from 2007-10. The Red Sox get a $12.5 million option for 2011 with no buyout.

"I want to finish my career as a Red Sox player," Ortiz said. "I'm going to be around for a while. I'm pretty sure New England is going to take this as good news."

Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein certainly did.

"I can't think of a player who contributes in so many ways," Epstein said. "He's a guy with a smile on his face. He sets the right mood for the team in our clubhouse. . . . It was just an easy decision for us" to give the extension.

Had Ortiz become a free agent, Epstein said the player would have had a lot of options "that would have made it difficult for him to stay in Boston."

Epstein said the new deal was 98 percent complete during spring training.

Since Ortiz joined the Red Sox in 2003 as a free agent from the Minnesota Twins, he and Manny Ramirez have developed into perhaps baseball's top power duo. Ortiz led the American League with 148 RBI last year.

They combined for 68 homers in 2003, 84 in 2004 and 92 in 2005, when Ortiz's career-best 47 were one fewer than New York's Alex Rodriguez, the AL leader. Ortiz and Ramirez became the first teammates in major-league history to each have 40 homers and 40 doubles in one season in 2004. Last year, they totaled 292 RBI.

Ortiz is one of Boston's clubhouse leaders, smiling and joking with teammates. He also is one of baseball's top clutch hitters, leading the league last year with 21 game-winning RBI while 19 of his homers gave the Red Sox a tie or the lead.

In Boston's first six games this season, five of them wins, Ortiz has one homer, four RBI and a .292 batting average. The Red Sox had Monday off before today's home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ortiz was fifth in the AL MVP voting in 2003 and fourth in 2004 before finishing second to Rodriguez in a tight vote last year.

In those three seasons, Ortiz leads the majors with 388 RBI, is second with a .600 slugging percentage and fourth with 119 homers.