David Ortiz hasn't discussed an extension with the Red Sox for a couple of months now, but the two sides will get back to that soon according to his agent. In the meantime, with Ortiz arriving in Fort Myers, we will just have to be satisfied with Big Papi discussing a potential extension.
More importantly, we get to listen to Ortiz discuss his thoughts on the critics who don't believe he should be rewarded with another year on his current contract, which ends after the 2014 season. Ortiz, speaking to the Boston Herald's John Tomase:
"I don't even know why they're bitching about me talking about contracts," Ortiz said. "Guys putting up my numbers, they're making $25, $30 million. I'm not asking for that. I'm asking for half of it. And they're still bitching about it? (Expletive) them. I'm tired of hearing them talk (expletive) about me when I talk about my contract. Hey, every time I talk about my contract, I earn it, (expletive). So don't be giving me that (expletive)."
The man has a point (or three), you just don't usually hear them delivered this way. Then again, there aren't many players like Ortiz, either on or off of the field, and we all know he's confident enough in everything that is Big Papi to be honest about his thoughts at this stage of his career. Ortiz even spends time discussing the fact he's not even thinking about retirement at this point, with reasoning that essentially (and fairly) can be shortened to, "Who can think about retirement when you're as awesome as I am?"
I, for one, do not want to think about the retirement of David Ortiz. He is going to hit homers and admire them and keep on playing forever and ever and don't you dare say otherwise until reality forces us to do you understand?
For what it's worth, Ortiz's demands are not unreasonable. The Red Sox, as they have since originally bringing Ortiz on board back before 2003, will eventually work something out that satisfies both sides and keeps Ortiz around at least one more year past this upcoming one. Still, Ortiz has always been at his best when he has a chip on his shoulder, so nobody tell him it'll all be okay, please.