Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, one of the most popular players in franchise history, will retire following the 2016 season.
Sources: David Ortiz will retire at end of 2016 season.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 17, 2015MORE: Most memorable David Ortiz moments | Classic photos from David Ortiz's career
Ortiz could make his announcement as soon as Wednesday, according to SportsGlory.com .
Ortiz, who turns 40 Wednesday, spent parts of six seasons with the Twins before joining Boston in 2003. As a member of the Red Sox, he has made nine All-Star teams and played for three World Series winners. He was the MVP of the 2004 ALCS and the 2013 World Series.
Overall, he has hit .284/.378/.547 with 503 home runs and 1,641 RBIs over his 19-year career.
Big Papi has put up Hall of Fame numbers, but his candidacy will be complicated by the cloud of performance-enhancing drugs. Ortiz reportedly failed a test in 2003, but he denied in The Players' Tribune article ever knowingly using PEDs. "In some people’s minds, I will always be considered a cheater. And that’s bulls—," he wrote.