Life without Big Papi?

"The Red Sox All-Stars were lined up six deep in a desert ballroom yesterday, Adrian Gonzalez at one end, next to Jon Lester, Kevin Youkilis, Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz on the other.

One of these stars was not like the other, however.

One of them is a free agent this fall, and if he's at the All-Star Game next year in Kansas City, Mo., he could be playing for another team.

Which is just too crazy to even imagine.

How could David Ortiz, the face of the Red Sox franchise for the last nine seasons, the one superstar here whose smile and charisma are burning at a higher wattage than any other All-Star, wear any uniform besides a Sox one until the day he retires?

Again, it's too crazy to imagine.

That still doesn't make it a longshot.

Ortiz wants at least a two-year deal with an option for a third, and at 36 years old next season, he is a couple of years beyond the age when the Red Sox normally get extremely gun-shy about committing to players for the long term.

No wonder just posing the question about his unsettled future makes Ortiz' Cheshire-cat smile vanish for an instant.

"You know what? I've been in this organization for nine years. My numbers ain't that bad, you know what I'm saying?" said Ortiz, who wants to re-sign with the Red Sox. "I don't think I need to open any more eyes than I have already. If you haven't seen me, you ain't."

With only hitting to worry about as the designated hitter, Ortiz understands wear and tear is not his problem."