David Ortiz to Yankees? Not so fast!

ST. LOUIS

Time to hit the brakes on the David Ortiz-to-the-Yankees chatter.

Really, there never was much reason to hit the gas on this one, even when Ortiz publicly mused last week about switching sides in The Rivalry. While the Yankees think the world of Ortiz and envision him doing damage to their stadium's inviting rightfield wall, they simply don't have room for him on their roster, not with Jesus Montero showing real potential and with Alex Rodriguez needing at-bats at DH.

And Thursday, impending free agent Ortiz -- apparently having calmed down during the past week -- said he wants to return to the Red Sox.

"Of course I would like to come back," Ortiz told reporters at Busch Stadium, where he accepted the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award before World Series Game 2. "You know, they have a lot of things going on right now, so once they go through all of this stuff, GM, manager, I think they're going to start talking to the players. We'll see."

Asked about his stated interest in the Yankees, Ortiz said, "I never said I would sign with the Yankees . . . I said I would think about it. But I didn't say to [anybody] that I would play for the Yankees. I'm still a Red Sox, aren't I?"

Yes, technically; free agency begins five days after the conclusion of the World Series. Here's what Ortiz said to ESPN on Oct. 13 when asked about signing with the Yankees:

"That's something I gotta think about. I've been here on the Red Sox a long time, and I've seen how everything goes down between these two ball clubs.'' He added about the Yankees, "It's great, from what I hear. It's a good situation to be involved in. Who doesn't want to be involved in a great situation where everything goes the right way? They lost just like we did; they just went to the first round of the playoffs. I ain't heard nobody coming out killing everybody just because they lost.''

Ortiz chose not to pile on to the remarkable wave of finger-pointing that has occurred since Boston's late-season collapse. "You guys know it all already," he told reporters. "I don't think I have to add anything else."

As of Thursday night, the Cubs had no such plans to take advantage of Friday's off day. They apparently are not quite ready to introduce longtime Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein as their new head of baseball operations.

Epstein, who agreed to terms with the Cubs last week, continues to work out of the Red Sox's office, waiting for the two sides to agree fully on compensation. Epstein is said to be frustrated that the talks have dragged on for such an extended period.

Well, unless you're a hitting coach.

The Padres are looking for their sixth hitting coach since they moved into pitcher-friendly PETCO Park. Hitters have largely been frustrated by the park's foreboding dimensions and air, and their instructors seem to have paid the price.