Ortiz, in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility, appeared on 77.9 percent of the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballots, just north of the 75-percent threshold. He'll be officially inducted this summer in Cooperstown, New York. No other player on the current BBWAA ballot got elected, though Buck O'Neil, Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, and Bud Fowler are all going in as Veterans Committee selections. Tim Kurkjian will be presented as the 2022 winner of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing." Also of note: Barry Bonds (66 percent), Roger Clemens (65.2 percent), Curt Schilling (58.6 percent), and Sammy Sosa (18.5 percent) are now off the writers' ballot after exhausting their 10 years of voting eligibility. Scott Rolen (63.2 percent) seemingly has a good shot at induction in 2023 or 2024.

The other first-time eligible players include Carl Crawford, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Tim Lincecum, Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon, Jake Peavy, A.J. Pierzynski, and Mark Teixeira. Ortiz is most likely among this group to actually get in on the first ballot. With the holdovers, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling are all eligible for the 10th and final time while Scott Rolen and Billy Wagner will hope to pick up some momentum. Hall of Fame ballots from BBWAA writers are due Dec. 31 with an announcement to follow on Jan. 25.

It appears that Big Papi is truly done with baseball after this season. The veteran slugger is ending his career on a high note, hitting .319/.404/.629 on the year with 37 home runs and 124 RBI. The minute he hangs up the cleats, the countdown to the Hall of Fame begins.

With the Yankees throwing lefty CC Sabathia on Sunday night, the Red Sox are going to use this as an opportunity to give Ortiz a night of rest. He should be back in Boston's lineup on Monday. Hanley Ramirez will slide into the DH position and bat clean up while Travis Shaw takes over duties at first base.