SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Red Sox are not better off without David Ortiz.

But there is a silver lining.

In 2016, the Sox tied a major league record by having seven players appear in at least 145 games.

By the end of the season, the offense looked exhausted.

It’s time for them to use the designated hitter position.

On Monday, it was learned the Sox do not intend to get into a long-term contract with a free agent DH like former Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion.

Yesterday, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke highly of Hanley Ramirez as one possible solution to the position but admitted the Sox might begin treating the DH more like most of the American League: a rotating position to keep players fresh.

“We’re not looking to just have a DH,” Dombrowski said. “I think really in today’s game, the only way you really do that is if you have someone like David Ortiz. I think most of the time, you have some flexibility.”

In 36 career games as the DH, Ramirez has a .331 batting average with a 1.014 OPS and 10 homers.

“Hanley’s numbers . . . were pretty good,” Dombrowski said at the general managers meetings. “Not pretty good, real good. We would think he’s capable of doing it. He really showed he swung the bat well.”

But the beauty of Ramirez’ breakout season at first base is the Sox can use him at both positions.

Ramirez certainly could handle the DH job. He had an .866 OPS last year, which would have ranked fifth among full-time DHs and is slightly higher than the league average of .810 at the position.

Not exactly elite, but those numbers would play.

They play a lot better at first base.

Take it from Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto: To be a full-time DH at a time when baseball continues to get younger, faster and more agile, “You have to be dominant to do that.”

“We have a one-guy model,” Dipoto said. “But our hope is that our one guy can go play defense, and he does. Nelson Cruz did a great job going to play defense (48 times) this year. That creates a nice balance where you can use it as a flex position. I think you’re starting to see more and more teams use the position to rotate. It keeps guys fresh, gets them off their feet for a day. It also allows for the ability to move younger players into more of a full-time role.”

Of the nine players to record at least 100 games at DH in the past two seasons, three have retired (Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez and Prince Fielder), one was released midseason (Billy Butler) and three are at least 36 years old (Victor Martinez, Albert Pujols and Cruz).

Only in specific instances does it make sense to devote the position to just one player.

“With Big Papi or Edgar Martinez, those are real positions,” Dipoto said. “Nobody is giving that offense back. You’re going to use those guys when they’re young, when they’re in their prime. And what you’re seeing with those guys, because you get them off their feet, is that they have extended careers.”

By splitting Ramirez between first base and DH, the Sox can get the most out of their other players and avoid exhaustion late in the season.

This year, the Sox led the majors with 5.6 runs per game through July, slowed down in August, and then from Sept. 13 through the end of the season, they ranked 22nd by scoring just four runs per game.

They scored seven total runs in three playoff games.

“We know how to keep players healthy now better than we ever did before,” Dipoto said. “The DH is for the ability to give a guy the day down.”

The game has changed. The DH has changed. And unless the Red Sox have a sudden change of heart this offseason, they’re planning on utilizing it.