Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz wants a multi-year deal to avoid arbitration.

"We are working on that right now...Hopefully, we will get to an agreement so we don't have to go in front of the judge," Ortiz told MLB.com.

Ortiz has an arbitration hearing scheduled for a date close to Feb. 12.

The Red Sox offered the slugger $12.65 million when both parties exchanged figures last month. Ortiz is looking for $16.5 million.

The 36-year-old batted .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBIs for Boston last season.