Here's How Easy It Would Be to Replace Big Papi

Summary

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The Red Sox are not ready to give up on Ortiz; nor should they be. Ortiz recovered from a slow start last season before injuring his left wrist. Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado looked finished last June, then went on a stunning tear.

The Sox probably could not trade Ortiz, who is earning $12.5 million annually through next season. Even if they tried to be creative - say, by attaching him to a young pitcher - Ortiz would possess enough service time to block any deal.

On the other hand, if Ortiz's struggles stretch into June, the Sox would have little difficulty obtaining a left-handed-hitting alternative - and as Pedro Martinez, Johnny Damon and Derek Lowe can attest, the team likely would be unsentimental about it.

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Extract

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Here's How Easy It Would Be to Replace Big Papi

We come not to bury David Ortiz, but to replace him.

Or merely, to point out how easy replacing him would be.

We're not talking about the Ortiz from 2003 to '07, one of the most...

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