Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

The Boston Red Sox today will exercise the $12.5 million option on designated hitter David Ortiz before tonight’s midnight deadline, the team announced Thursday afternoon.

Ortiz has been vocal about wanting a long-term extension and not the one-year option, though picking up the option does not preclude the sides from working out a multiyear pact.

Along with Ortiz’s option, the Red Sox announced Thursday their intention to exercise the 2011 option for righthanded reliever Scott Atchison and decline options on infielder/outfielder Bill Hall and infielder Felipe Lopez.