The team's one season under Valentine, who was fired last month, was a disaster.
Ortiz was having another solid year, batting .318 with 23 homers and 60 RBI before going down with the Achilles' injury in mid-July. He played in just one more game the rest of the season.
During an interview on NBC Sports Network in October, Valentine said Ortiz "decided not to play anymore" after Boston traded Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a move predicated on dumping salary.
On Monday, Ortiz told ESPNDeportes.com, "Stopping me [from playing] was the decision of the doctors, management, the manager and me The team doctor recommended that I stop playing to not make the situation worse for the tendon.''
And why didn't Ortiz respond immediately to Valentine's remarks?
"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 said. "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."
The eight-time All-Star has 343 homers for Boston, fifth on the team's career list, and has 1,088 RBI.
Noteworthy *
St. Louis promoted John Mabry to hitting coach as the replacement for Mark McGwire, who told the Cardinals he won't return after three seasons and appears headed to the Dodgers.
* Dodgers pitcher Jose Dominguez was suspended 25 games for a violation of baseball's minor league drug program. Free agents Emerson Martinez and Luis Valenzuela were penalized 50 games apiece after positive tests.
