As we learned on Sunday, the Boston Red Sox and David Ortiz had reached an agreement on a one-year extension worth $16 million.

Late Sunday night, the team made it official.

Here’s the release:

FORT MYERS, FL-The Boston Red Sox and reigning World Series Most Valuable Player David Ortiz agreed today on a one-year extension through the 2015 season with a club/vesting option for 2016 and a club option for 2017.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Ortiz, 38, has led the team to three World Championships and has been an All-Star nine times in his 11 years with the Red Sox. Known as “Big Papi,” Ortiz has hit 431 home runs in his big league career.

“With this agreement, we have near certainty that David Ortiz will finish his career in a Red Sox uniform, which is something we have all wanted and that we are all proud of,” said Principal Owner John Henry. “It is difficult to describe David’s contributions to our city both on the field and off the field, and we are so proud to have this ambassador of our game with us as he continues on this road to Cooperstown.”

In the 2013 regular season, Ortiz hit .309 with 30 home runs and 103 RBI in 137 games. The left-handed batter, primarily a designated hitter, led the team and ranked among the top American Leaguers in batting average (6^th), home runs (T-8^th), RBI (7^th), walks (T-7^th, 76), on-base percentage (4^th, .395), and extra-base hits (5^th, 70).

His .564 slugging percentage last season ranked third among all major league qualifiers behind Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (.636) and Baltimore’s Chris Davis (.634). In the last three seasons from 2011-13, his .972 OPS trails only Cabrera (1.036).

Last October, Ortiz started all 16 games en route to Boston’s third World Series Championship in 10 years, hitting .353 while topping postseason leaders in home runs (5), total bases (36), walks (16), and times on base (34).

Named 2013 World Series MVP after going 11-for-16 (.688), he now owns the best-ever World Series batting average (.455), on-base percentage (.576), and slugging percentage (.795) among players with at least 50 plate appearances in the Fall Classic.

The Red Sox’ career leader in postseason games (73), runs (51), hits (79), doubles (18), homers (17), extra-base hits (37), RBI (56), total bases (152), and walks (57), Ortiz also earned 2004 ALCS MVP honors after winning Games 4 and 5 with walk-off hits in Boston’s historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series versus New York.

An All-Star in each of the past four seasons, he leads all of Major League Baseball with nine All-Star selections in the past 10 years from 2004-13.

Last season was the seventh of Ortiz’s career with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI, all with the Red Sox, tying him with Ted Williams for the most in franchise history. No other left-handed hitter has as many 30-homer/100-RBI campaigns over the past 11 years.

With the Red Sox, Ortiz has hit 373 home runs, a total that trails only Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, and Dwight Evans; he is within 10 home of overtaking Evans and Rice for third place on that list. His 1,191 RBI trail that same group plus Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr.

Ortiz also ranks in the Red Sox Top 10 in extra-base hits (5^th, 800), total bases (6^th, 3,191), doubles (5^th, 412), walks (5^th, 901), runs scored (8^th, 993), hits (9^th, 1,630), and games played (10^th, 1,514).

He ranks fourth in team history (min. 3,000 PA) with a .572 slugging percentage and a .962 OPS behind only Williams (.634, 1.116), Jimmie Foxx (.605, 1.034) and Manny Ramirez (.588, .999).

The current extension would take Ortiz through at least a 13th straight season with the Red Sox. Only five position players have been on the team for as many consecutive seasons: Yastrzemski (23), Evans (19), Rice (16), Williams (15), and Jason Varitek (15).

Since joining the Red Sox in 2003, Ortiz ranks second among major leaguers in slugging (.572), trailing only Albert Pujols (.601). The Red Sox signed him as a free agent on January 22, 2003, after Minnesota released him.

Ortiz and Alfonso Soriano are the only major leaguers to tally at least 20 homers in each of the last 12 seasons (starting 2002). He is the only Red Sox player ever to record at least 20 home runs in 11 consecutive campaigns (starting 2003). His 39 multi-homer games are the most in team history, while his 10 grand slams with Boston rank second after Williams (17).

Ortiz has a lifetime .287 batting average (2,023-for-7,057) with 520 doubles, 18 triples, 431 home runs, 1,429 RBI, 1,208 runs and 1,087 walks in 1,969 games over 17 major league seasons with the Twins (1997-2002) and Red Sox (2003-13). His 431 home runs rank tied for 45^th on baseball’s all-time list, sixth among active players, and tied for 16^th in American League history. No other active player has as many regular season walk-off home runs as Ortiz’s 11.

In 2013, Ortiz garnered his fourth career Thomas A. Yawkey Award as the Red Sox MVP in a vote of Boston BBWAA members (also 2004-06). He was the only player to rank among the top five in AL MVP voting in each season from 2003-07.

Among designated hitters, he is the all-time major league leader in hits (1,758), doubles (447), home runs (381), extra-base hits (845), total bases (3,382), and RBI (1,245). Ortiz has earned the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award a record seven times (2003-07, 2011, 2013). His six Silver Slugger Awards as DH (2004-07, 2011, 2013) are the most ever at the position.

He won the 2005 AL Hank Aaron Award, given to the top offensive performer in each league, after leading the Majors with 148 RBI. In 2006, he received the Josh Gibson Award, presented by the National Negro Leagues Museum to each league’s home run champion, after breaking Foxx’s Red Sox single-season home runs record with 54.

Known as much for his heart as his brawn, Ortiz won the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball’s highest honor for those who best represent the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field. That same year, he won the Boston BBWAA’s Tim Wakefield Award for his charitable spirit.

He created the David Ortiz Children’s Fund to provide critical pediatric services in New England and in his native Dominican Republic. In the Dominican, he has hosted an annual eponymous golf classic the past four years to benefit his foundation. In Boston, he has provided his time and other resources to Mass General Hospital for Children, donating tickets to patients from the hospital over the last four years as part of his “Papi’s Pals” program.

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Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis.

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UConn Women’s Basketball links

Video: UConn Women Blow Out Prairie View A&M, 87-44 [sox & dawgs]

Huskies cruise to first-round NCAA win [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Notebook: Huskies present Geno with birthday video [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Notes From UConn’s 87-44 Win [john altavilla – hartford courant]

A Little Something Postgame From Geno [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Stewie Exhibits Maturity By Shaking Off Slow Start [rich elliott – ct post]

Playful side of UConn emerges [jim fuller – new haven register]

Stewart, UConn women wallop Prairie View [ct post]

UConn’s starting 5 mesh of talent and confidence [ct post]

As Expected, UConn Romps In First Round [hartford courant]

UConn’s Quest For Ninth Title Doesn’t Play Well Everywhere [hartford courant]

St. Joseph’s Wins To Set Up Meeting With UConn [hartford courant]

Geno, UConn enjoy birthday blowout against Prairie View [new haven register]

UConn women roll in tourney opener [the day]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Video: UConn/Iowa State Sweet 16 Preview [sox & dawgs]

Video: Huskies Head To MSG For Sweet 16 [sox & dawgs]

A Look at Iowa State, UConn’s Opponent in Sweet 16 [david borges – new haven register]

UConn learns next NCAA opponent [gavin keefe – the day]

Men’s Basketball East Region Ticket Information [uconnhuskies.com]

Napier’s supporting cast makes it sweet for UConn [ct post]

Huskies Aren’t Complaining About Their No. 7 Seed Now [hartford courant]

While Napier Sat, UConn Men Managed In Win Over Villanova [hartford  courant]

Samuel delivered for the Huskies Saturday night [the day]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. UConn Picks Up First Conference Win At USF, 4-2 [uconnhuskies.com]

Softball. Huskies Swept by Bulls in Sunday Loss, 8-0 [uconnhuskies.com]

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Just like it should be, David Ortiz will finish up his career as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

According to multiple media reports, the Red Sox and Big Papi have agreed on a one-year extension worth $16 million. The deal also includes vesting options for 2016 and 2017 based on plate appearances.

You could argue that Dustin Pedroia is the heart and face of this Red Sox team. You could argue that same fact about Big Papi. Either way, you’re not wrong.

Ortiz has spent 11 years with the Red Sox and has been named an All-Star in all but two of them. He’s the only player left from the 2004 World Series Championship team and has been a part of three during his tenure in Boston.

With the exception of an injury riddled 2012 season, Big Papi has put up strong numbers throughout his time in Boston.

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photo credit: getty images

The Shaw’s/Star Market WEEI Red Sox Radio Network looks much the same as it has for the last few seasons as Dave O’Brien and Joe Castiglione return for their 8th season together in the booth as the primary announcers for Boston Red Sox baseball.

In the absence of either O’Brien or Castiglione you will hear from fill-ins Lou Merloni a former Red Sox player and current midday host at WEEI-FM or Boston Celtics announcer Sean Grande.  All the games will be broadcast from the team’s flagship station WEEI-FM 93.7 in Boston to its network affiliates through out New England, New York, New Mexico and Wyoming.  As well as having all the home games carried along the XM Satellite Radio network.  You can also listen to Dave and Joe via MLB AtBat14 app on your smartphone or tablet.

O’Brien, a New Hampshire native who enters his 8th season in Shaw’s WEEI booth, is probably the most familiar amongst the Red Sox radio crew for the non-Red Sox or non-baseball fan in the crowd due to his heavy schedule with ESPN.  In addition to his duties as the Red Sox lead announcer, Obie does the Monday night games for ESPN with Rick Sutcliffe and Aaron Boone.  Prior to joining the Red Sox, O’Brien was the play-by-play announcer for the Florida Marlins radio network from 1993 to 2001 until he left to go to ESPN.  While at the World Wide Leader he has called in addition to baseball, World Cup Soccer, college basketball, NBA, MLS and the women’s college basketball Final Four.  He has also called games for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and the University of Georgia.  He is now the owner of three World Series rings, having called the Red Sox title years in 2007 and 2013 as well as the 1997 Florida Marlins.

Castiglione, a Hamden CT native, joined to Red Sox broadcasts in 1983 and has worked with such luminaries as Bob Starr, Ken Coleman and Jerry Trupiano in his 32 seasons.  Castiglione, who grew up a Yankees fan, has become well known in Red Sox lore for his call of the final out of the 2004 World Series, which ended the team’s 86 year drought without a championship.  When he is not in the radio booth you can usually find Joe teaching sports broadcasting at Northeastern University.  He has also called games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers in his career. As with Obie, Joe C. has himself three World Series rings having called the Red Sox title years in 2004, 2007 and 2013.

Merloni, a former MLB player from 1998-2006 with the Red Sox, Angels, Indians and Padres began his broadcasting career in 2008 as an afternoon fill-in on WEEI.  He then spent the 2008 season with NESN covering the Red Sox as a studio analyst before moving onto Comcast Sportsnet New England in 2009. In 2011 he was named a midday co-host at WEEI and in 2013 he started as a part-time color analyst on Red Sox games and was added as a third voice in the booth for the ALCS and World Series.

Grande, who in 2009 became just the 3rd man to call 1,000 NBA games before age 40 was hired by the Red Sox in 2013 to be a fill-in for O’Brien when he is absent due to his ESPN duties.  In his career, he has called basketball, football and hockey games for Boston University and Boston College football and hockey on the radio.  He spent 7 years at WEEI the last three as Sports Director before leaving in 1998 to be the voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA).  He returned to Boston in 2001 to be the voice of the Celtics.  In addition to those duties he has also worked for the Providence Bruins, Harvard University, MLS, Fox Sports Net and ABC Sports.

John Ryder is entering his 2nd season hosting the Red Sox pre-game and post-game shows on the Red Sox Radio Network, he also handles “”Sox Talk”  the call in show that airs during rain delays in the game.  When not involved with Red Sox baseball, also is the scoreboard flash anchor for the Planet Mikey show, handles hosting Celtics Rewind and has a weekend show on the flagship station.

Over the air the Red Sox Radio Network has nearly 60 stations in 9 states.

Here is a list of all the affiliates for the Shaw’s WEEI Red Sox Radio Network in 2014:

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they’ll take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Tip is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. The game will also be available on WatchESPN. If you live locally in Connecticut and can’t watch the game you can catch it on the UConn IMG Radio Network.

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UConn Women’s Basketball links

For UConn’s seniors, the beginning of the end [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

KML ready for some junior achievement [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Notebook: Tournament still seeking parity [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Looking back at UConn’s title defenses [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Georgia Survived The Tough SEC [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Geno Tells Muffet It’s Not Good To Fib [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Notes From Saturday’s NCAA Practices [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Preview: UConn women get going in title quest [roger cleaveland – waterbury republican-american]

Auriemma Responds To Comments Made By McGraw [rich elliott – ct post]

Dolson Ready To Go After Dealing With Injuries Last Year [rich elliott – ct post]

Mosqueda-Lewis Ready To Get Started [rich elliott – ct post]

Prairie View draws inspiration from 2012 UConn game [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn’s Stewart closing in on rare feat [jim fuller – new haven register]

Top-Seeded UConn Faces Prairie View A&M in NCAA First Round [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn Readies for NCAA First Round Game [uconnhuskies.com]

Dolson: Top-ranked Huskies playing with a chip on their shoulders [ct post]

It’s The Home Stretch In The Quest For Ninth Championship [hartford courant]

Gampel Notebook: Geno Lines Up In Favor Of Neutral Sites [hartford courant]

UConn women’s basketball Last Dance [journal inquirer]

UConn’s Breanna Stewart one of the best and getting better [new haven register]

UConn women: In pursuit of perfection [the day]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

On To The Garden To ‘Take Care Of Business;’ Wrapping Things Up In Buffalo [dom amore – hartford courant]

Wasn’t it Inevitable UConn Would Get Back to Madison Square Garden? [david borges – new haven register]

Rapid Reaction: UConn 77, Villanova 65 [kevin duffy – ct post]

Sans Shabazz: The 15 possessions that saved UConn’s season [kevin duffy – ct post]

Men of steel [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Napier gives Husky fans scare, scores 25 to help UConn reach Sweet 16 [william paxton – ct post]

Moving On [uconn huskies basketball]

UConn beats Villanova, advances to Sweet 16 [ct post]

UConn Tops No. 2 Seed Villanova, Advances To Sweet 16 In NYC [hartford courant]

Napier Leads A Category That He Really Shouldn’t [hartford courant]

Shabazz Wants It All On His Plate, With Extra Onions [hartford courant]

Shabazz, UConn returning to Garden is destiny [new haven register]

Source says Jim Calhoun to Boston College is non-story [new haven register]

Big Apple, here they come, as UConn men reach Sweet 16 with an upset [the day]

Wright loves UConn’s direction under Ollie [the day]

Napier, UConn guards key to Huskies’ victory [cbssports.com]

Other UConn related links

W. Lacrosse. Strong Second Half Propels Huskies Past Fairfield, 8-7 [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Matt Grogan Signs with Fort Wayne Komets of ECHL [uconnhuskies.com]

Softball. UConn Rallies Fall Short in Conference-Opening Doubleheader at USF [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. Marzi Fans Nine In 6-2 Loss at USF [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Track. UConn 4×400 Meter Relay Team Sets School Record, Top NCAA Time At FSU Relays [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. UConn Men’s Soccer Spring Schedule Set [uconnhuskies.com]

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