ORTIZ

FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz was trying to decide what to have for breakfast when he was handed a treat.

According to the Boston Red Sox slugger, team owner John Henry walked up and gave him a set of keys to a shiny, new black Toyota Tundra pickup truck parked in the lot outside the front door of the minor-league complex. It’s a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) off-road vehicle with a souped-up engine.

“That was my breakfast,” said Ortiz with a big smile yesterday afternoon after undergoing his physical and participating in the agility and conditioning drills with the rest of the position players, minus Manny Ramirez.

“It’s my first pickup ever,” he said with a big smile. “They make presents like that for players every year. I get a little something every year. I like presents. That’s why I keep rolling.”

A year ago, Ortiz “rolled” to a franchise record 54 home runs, obliterating Jimmie Foxx (50 in 1938) from the Red Sox record books. He also knocked in 137 runs.

Last year, Ortiz signed a contract extension, earning the powerful designated hitter a guaranteed $52 million over the next four years, an average of $13 million a season. Not a bad contract for Ortiz, who has clubbed 173 homers and has driven in 525 runs in his four seasons in Boston.

But in the offseason, the Sox signed free-agent outfielder J.D. Drew to a five-year, $70-million contract, good for $14 million a season (three years of which are guaranteed), which makes Drew, considered an underachiever in some corners of the baseball world, a higher-paid employee than the charismatic Ortiz, one of the most feared clutch hitters in the game.

And what does Ortiz think of that?

“Next question,” he answered quickly, smiling.

But he did answer it moments later.

“Some things you can’t control,” said Ortiz. “You make decisions. Later on something happens [the market changes]. You already did what you were supposed to do, I guess. It doesn’t bother me.”

Did he think the truck was the Sox’ way of smoothing over any possible ruffled feathers about the seeming incongruity of the Ortiz and Drew contracts?

“No,” said Ortiz.

He paused.

“Maybe,” he then added, smiling again.

There are no “maybes,” though, when it comes to Ortiz’s importance to the Boston lineup.

Over the last four seasons his home-run total has increased each year, from 31 to 41 to 47 to 54. His RBI totals have also risen almost as consistently, from 101 to 139 to 148 before falling to 137 last year, held down in part because of Manny Ramirez’s September absence, leading to 27 walks over Ortiz’s last 23 games.

Ortiz said he’s not worrying about trying to top what he did last year.

“It’s a new season. Who cares [about last season]?” said Ortiz. “I’ll try to make this a better season and see if we can finish in a better place and get to the playoffs.”

And along the way, while Ortiz is driving in runs, he’ll be driving in style.

skrasner@projo.com