SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- David Ortiz is happily retired from baseball and, despite the rumors about it, his decision will not change.
"My playing time has already expired," Ortiz told to ESPN Deportes. The 41-year-old slugger said that for the first time in more than two decades, he is not physically preparing to play baseball this offseason.
"Baseball is not something that you wake up today and you say, 'I'll play tomorrow,'" Ortiz said "Baseball is something that carries a lot of sacrifice, a lot of preparation, and there is a reason why we train the entire year to play it, practice every day, especially during the season, because it is a sport of consistency.