David Ortiz (Achilles) has increased the intensity of his spring training workouts in recent days without suffering any setbacks. Ortiz has been going through running drills and participated in a lengthy agility drill on Friday. He expects to be cleared to run the bases fairly soon, and would progress to playing in Grapefruit League games shortly thereafter. He remains confident that he'll be fully healthy and in the lineup for Opening Day.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Thursday that David Ortiz (Achilles) should only need a couple of weeks of at-bats to get ready for the regular season. In other words, don't look for him in the early part of the exhibition schedule. The good news is that he hasn't had any issues with his right Achilles tendon and appears on track for Opening Day.

David Ortiz (Achilles) said Tuesday that he's at about 90 percent. Ortiz, who was shut down last season due to an injury to right Achilles tendon, has already done some sprints without any issues. The Red Sox may take it easy with him this spring, but he's expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Red Sox manager John Farrell expects David Ortiz (Achilles) to be ready for the start of the season. Farrell indicated that Big Papi might not do much during spring training, but there's never been any concern that he wouldn't be ready for the start of the regular season. Ortiz, of course, is recovering from an injury to his right Achilles tendon.

David Ortiz told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com on Wednesday morning that he's encouraged by his progress from his right Achilles tendon injury. "I'm not completely recovered, but I'm going to be ready to go for Opening Day," said Ortiz. The veteran slugger has been hitting without any issues and has even participated in some "small running," but he plans to ramp things up further on Wednesday. While Ortiz plans to take things slow upon reporting to camp, he's cautiously optimistic that he'll be ready to go for the team's exhibition opener.

David Ortiz told the Boston Globe he still isn't fully healed from his Achilles' tendon injury and "hopes" to be ready to the start of spring training. Ortiz has yet to be cleared for his offseason program, but said he expects to begin hitting activities in January. He almost certainly won't play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, and his status for spring training is in question. Ortiz's health will be a situation to monitor this offseason. His two-year extension with the Red Sox includes incentives based on the number of games he misses due to injury.

David Ortiz said Thursday that he's "pretty much ahead" of schedule in his recovery from a right Achilles injury but is "not fully recovered." "Yesterday I started doing some agility drills, and that felt good," Ortiz said. "Tomorrow I'm going to continue doing it. After that if everything goes good I'm going to start doing my running." Big Papi underwent ultrasound therapy on his Achilles last month, which he thinks has had a positive effect. He's expected to be 100 percent for spring training.

According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, David Ortiz's new contract with the Red Sox includes incentives based on the health of his right Achilles tendon. Ortiz signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Red Sox on Monday which will pay him a $1 million signing bonus, $14 million in 2013 and $11 million in 2014. According to Edes, his salary for 2014 can escalate to $13 million-$15 million depending on the number of games he misses because of the Achilles injury that caused him to miss most of the second half of the 2012 season.

Red Sox signed DH David Ortiz to a two-year, $26 million contract. The deal was agreed to on Friday, then made official at a press conference Monday at Fenway Park. Ortiz, 36, posted a superb .318/.415/.611 batting line with 21 home runs and 60 RBI in 90 games this past season for Boston and seems capable of remaining highly productive over the course of this new two-year pact.

David Ortiz has reached an agreement on a two-year, $26 million deal with the Red Sox. Ortiz quickly locked up the two-year deal that he long coveted. With incentives, the contract could reach as high as $30 million. The 36-year-old slugger is coming off one of his finest seasons, hitting .318/.415/.611 with 21 homers and 60 RBI in just 90 games.