David Ortiz: "Fuck Them. I'm Tired Of Hearing Them Talk Shit"

Red Sox designated hitter/style icon David Ortiz, who's in the last year of his contract and coming off his best regular season since his mid-aughts prime and an all-time postseason run, has made it clear this winter that he wants money. The world's response has mainly been, "Well, the Red Sox should give him money." During a parking lot interview with the Boston Herald's John Tomase, though, Ortiz had stern words for unnamed haters who don't think he should make it clear that he wants money, which the newspaper reproduced as below:

"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)."

Our newspaper-to-English translator is a bit wonky, but we're reasonably sure this is what Ortiz actually said:

"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? Fuck them. I'm tired of hearing them talk shit about me when I talk about my contract. Hey, every time I talk about my contract, I earn it, motherfucker. So don't be giving me that shit."

Players who hit as well from ages 35 to 37 as Ortiz did over the last three seasons—Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Edgar Martinez, Chipper Jones—tend to age pretty well, so Papi should, and probably will, get his money. Everyone should hope the negotiations are interminably drawn out, though, if just so we get more foul-mouthed tirades.

[ Over the Monster]