David Ortiz (Achilles) is scheduled to take batting practice Friday. Ortiz was given clearance to shed the protective boot from his right foot earlier this week. He's making progress, but the real test will come when he starts running over the next few days. The Red Sox are hopeful he'll be ready to return when he's first eligible next Wednesday.

David Ortiz confirmed to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he received clearance to remove the protective boot from his right foot Tuesday. Ortiz will have his strained right Achilles tendon reevaluated Friday and could swing a bat as soon as this weekend. The veteran slugger is eligible to return from the disabled list on August 1 and remains hopeful of doing exactly that.

David Ortiz (Achilles) has yet to resume hitting activities. Ortiz claimed he would begin hitting Friday while wearing a protective boot, but he's yet to be cleared by the Red Sox. He didn't suffer a tear or rupture to his Achilles, and remains hopeful of returning when first eligible.

David Ortiz (Achilles) is out at least a week. An MRI taken Monday on Ortiz's Achilles tendon showed no tear or rupture, but he's in a walking boot and could need a stint on the 15-day disabled list. The Sox won't decide whether to make that move until Wednesday.

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com was told by a source that David Ortiz did not suffer a tear or a rupture in his right Achilles. Good news, though Ortiz said Tuesday that he is "in a lot of pain." The Red Sox have yet to make an official announcement on his status, but Bradford hears that the veteran slugger will likely need to miss a few days at the very least.

David Ortiz (Achilles) told Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com on Tuesday that he is "in a lot of pain." "They already did the MRI, and the doctors will give me the results this afternoon," said Ortiz. "I don't have anything broken, but I'm in a lot of pain, and the heel is swollen." Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said after Monday's game that he was hopeful Ortiz would only have to miss a few days, but Ortiz's comments aren't very promising.

David Ortiz slammed his 23rd home run of the season on Friday, leading the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Rays. Ortiz finished the night 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. He got the Red Sox offense started with a bang, smashing a solo homer off Jeremy Hellickson in the first inning. The 36-year-old slugger is enjoying another tremendous season, hitting .313 with 23 homers and 58 RBI. Fantasy owners who gambled on draft day, taking a player who's only DH eligible, have been handsomely rewarded.

David Ortiz has voiced displeasure over his contract and said the Red Sox offering him arbitration rather than signing him to a two-year contract over the offseason was "humiliating" and "embarrassing." Papi also recently complained about the atmosphere around the team and has indicated that this might be his last year in Boston. "If you go crazy and give contracts to whoever comes along despite not knowing how they're going to do, then you don't give me my due consideration, even though I do my thing every year, (expletive) that," said Ortiz. "I'm going to be open to anything. My mentality is not going to be, 'I like it here.' It's going to be, 'Bring it to the table, and we'll see what happens.'"

David Ortiz homered, walked three times and scored four runs as the Red Sox topped the Blue Jays 10-4 on Wednesday. Ortiz walked and came around to score in each of his first three plate appearances before hitting career homer No. 399 in the fifth. He struck out in the eighth going for No. 400. Overall, he finished the series against Toronto 5-for-9 with three homers, two doubles and four walks. It really is incredible how productive he's been this season.

David Ortiz clubbed a pair of homers and knocked in three runs in a losing effort Monday against the Blue Jays. Ortiz also walked and scored three runs. It was his 37th career multi-home run game with the Red Sox, which ties him with Ted Williams for the most in team history. He now has 398 career home runs, which ties him with Dale Murphy for 51st all-time. Ortiz already has 20 homers and 52 RBI through 72 games this year after amassing 29 bombs and 96 RBI in 146 games last year.