Boston Red Sox: Will David Ortiz's Latest Rant Affect Future Contract Talks?

As many know, the Boston Red Sox didn't get off to the best of starts this season but have somehow found their way back to the .500 mark. They currently sit only 5.5 games behind the first place Baltimore Orioles.

One of the biggest reasons Boston hasn't been worse? David Ortiz.

While many of the Red Sox pitchers and position players have slumped throughout parts of the early season, Ortiz has been consistently great. He sits in the top 10 of nearly every offensive category in the American League including batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, home runs, RBI and doubles, to name a few.

Where he ranks among the other players in Major League Baseball isn't relevant, at least not for the purpose of this argument. There is no question that David Ortiz has been the MVP of the Red Sox through the first two months of the season, and it's not even close.

The issue with Ortiz is that he doesn't feel like he's getting the credit that he deserves as a leader of the team, as he told Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com just a few days ago.

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"I don't give a [expletive] if they want to call me a leader. I don't give a [expletive] if they want to call me a captain. I don't give a [expletive] if they call me either of them. Because you know what? I always say I came to play this game and one day I'm going to be gone. And as long as I play, I'm going to try to do good. I'm going to try to do whatever it takes to win ballgames."

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Strong words from Big Papi.

Now for one, I think that David Ortiz is definitely a leader of the team along with Dustin Pedroia. These two really had to step up this season after former captain Jason Varitek and veteran Tim Wakefield both retired following the poor end to last season.

General manager Ben Cherington responded with words of encouragement for Ortiz (via Boston Herald).

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“I think David’s been a leader on the field and off the field for the entire time in Boston but certainly this year since I’ve been GM. He’s stepped up on and off the field, started the first day of spring training and reported in great shape. He’s played hard, he’s run ground balls out, he’s done what he needs to do on the field, he’s done what he needs to do in the clubhouse. He’s been a huge part of our team and a big reason why we’ve gotten through some tough matches early in the season. We’re certainly happy and lucky he’s on our side.”

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The question will come up as to how long he's on Ben Cherington and the Boston Red Sox' side.

Boston and Ortiz escaped an arbitration meeting during this past offseason, settling on a one-year, 14.575 million dollar deal. Ortiz will enter free agency after this season unless Boston can sign him to an extension. Would Ortiz want to sign an extension after these harsh comments about the lack of respect towards him?

Ortiz is currently Boston's longest tenured player as well as the most well-respected player throughout Red Sox Nation. It would be a colossal loss if Ortiz were to sign elsewhere this offseason.

He's the best DH in the game, hands down. He's won two World Series in Boston. He's having an MVP-caliber season.

So, listen up Ben Cherington; do whatever you have to do to make David Ortiz happy. Make him the official captain for all we care. Offer him a boat-load of money. Do something.

Do not let David Ortiz get away.