David Ortiz Will Retire Following 2016 Season

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz will retire following the 2016 season, according to a report from FOX Sports.

Ortiz will turn 40 on Wednesday, and he said after Boston's 2015 season that the Red Sox plan on competing for a World Series title next year:

"Winning another World Series [is the goal]," he said. "I'll take a World Series anytime on top of 500 home runs any day. That's my goal. That's my goal for next year. That was my goal for this year, but it didn't work out that way. I'll be on it next year."

Ortiz, a nine-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winniner, has 503 home runs in his career, putting him 27 on the all-time list. 445 of those have come during his time with the Red Sox, putting him third in team history behind Carl Yastrzemski (452) and Ted Williams (521).

Boston owes Ortiz a guaranteed $11 million base salary next season. He sported a .273 batting average, 108 RBIs, and 37 home runs in 2015.

Follow our Boston Red Sox news page for all the latest Red Sox news!