Red Sox, Ortiz discussing role with organization

Amid speculation surrounding his potential return to the Boston Red Sox, Big Papi confirmed Monday he and the team are in active discussions.

"We've been talking, but right now nothing," Ortiz said, according to Joe Trezza of MLB.com. "We're going back and forth. At some point it's going to happen. That organization is what I am. We've been talking."

Ortiz was tight-lipped, however, when asked if he was headed to the front office or returning to the diamond.

"I'll let you know later," he said.

Pedro Martinez chimed in on Twitter soon after, suggesting Ortiz is in shape, and that the Red Sox could use "a bit of his bat."

Related: Pedro claims Ortiz is working out, remains in 'baseball shape'

Ortiz's future with the team has been a talking point since before he retired last year. At the start of spring training, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said Big Papi would define the role he wanted.

"I know David expects to have a role going forward," Werner said. "We are talking to him frequently, and we expect he will have a role which he will principally define."

The Red Sox, who are two games back of the New York Yankees for first place, enter Tuesday playing their best baseball of the year. Despite their rise in the standings, though, the team ranks second-last in long balls - an area of expertise for Ortiz.