Ortiz 1-on-1: ‘I want to stick around'

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Former Red Sox favorite Jonathan Papelbon bolted for Philadelphia, but the Red Sox still have one high-profile player left on the free agent market.

We're talking about David Ortiz, of course, the Red Sox DH who's has hit .289 with 320 home runs and 1028 RBI over his nine-year career with the Sox.

In an interview with ESPN shortly after the season ended, Ortiz expressed concern over the state of the Sox, and even said that he would consider playing with the Yankees.

Now, he tells CSNNE's Jessica Moran that he wants to remain a member of the Red Sox and hopes that a deal gets done.

"I've been saying for years that I want to stick around," Ortiz said. "Now this is like home to me. I love playing for the fans here, and that is something that is not news for anyone. So hopefully everything goes well."

So just how well is it going? Are the Sox making offers? Are other teams?

"I can't really talk about it. That's not of public news right now," Ortiz answered. "But, like I said . . . it's a situation where, of course, a lot of teams in the American League need players like myself and of course they're going to try to chase me. So hopefully the Red Sox get it done."

The Sox didn't even put an offer in for Papelbon, and he didn't waste any time accepting one from a team that did. Now, they're left without a closer -- a situation that Ortiz finds troublesome.

"It's going to be a little crazy," Ortiz said. "Because when it comes down to the end of the game, we definitely want to have a guy like Pap out there doing his thing."

But that won't be the case anymore. The Sox let Papelbon go, essentially deeming not worth the money or years that any closer should get.

"It's a little frustrating not seeing him in the uniform," Ortiz said. "But what can I say, this is a business and you got to do what you got to do."

"Hopefully the fans don't feel Papelbon betrayed them or anything like that. Of course we want to be part of this organization, but like I say, things happen and we are just employees."

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