Dombrowski: 'If Ortiz wanted to come back, he would call'

Any hope that David Ortiz would make an unexpected return from retirement to rejoin the Boston Red Sox was put to rest by team president Dave Dombrowski.

Ortiz created a stir on social media Tuesday after the Red Sox went out and acquired ace Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox. Big Papi welcomed Sale on Instagram with "My god my boy sale to Btown? You guys got me thinking?" as the caption, leading to many fans hoping a reunion could be in the cards.

Not so fast, Dombrowski says.

"I know David well enough and I know that if he really had sincere interest, that he would call," Dombrowski told Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.

"It's just like when I walk into the clubhouse and he's working out and I say, 'Hey, you could play now in the shape you're in,' and he says, 'Oh, no, no, no.'"

Ortiz technically can't return right now anyways, as a player cannot come off the voluntary retired list for the first 60 days of the season. Maybe a reunion could be in store if Ortiz feels like he can play in June or July?

"I wouldn't want to reach out to him," Dombrowski said. "I wouldn't want to keep bothering him."