David Ortiz kept quiet while he was negotiating a two-year, $26 million deal that was finalized on Monday, but he said in an interview with ESPN Deportes that he had trouble with some of the things former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said about him, suggesting Valentine “must have some mental issues.”
This was in reaction to a television interview a few weeks ago when Valentine said Ortiz decided not play anymore this season because the Red Sox were no longer in the playoff race.
Ortiz missed most of the second half of the season with an Achilles injury, but denied the team’s standings played a role in his decision not to return.
“Stopping me (from playing) was the decision of the doctors, management, the manager and me,” Ortiz told ESPNDeportes.com. “The team doctor recommended that I stop playing to not make the situation worse for the tendon.”
Ortiz was not pleased with the way it was portrayed by Valentine.
“After he went on national TV to say what he said, he sent me a text message trying to tell me that it was the media trying to change things,” Ortiz told ESPNDeportes.com. “I did not respond to the message and I said to myself, this guy must have some mental issues or needs medicine or something? I said, I am dealing with someone crazy and I am not going to drive myself crazy, so it is better if I leave it alone.”