David Ortiz thinks David Price should apologize to Dennis Eckersley

David Ortiz is no longer a member of the Boston Red Sox, but his words may still carry weight with the team. Ortiz sent a message to pitcher David Price on Sunday, suggesting he should apologize to broadcaster Dennis Eckersley.

Price and Eckersley have been on shaky terms since late June after Price confronted the Hall of Famer on a team flight. Price reportedly felt Eckersley was being too critical of the team. A month later, their relationship still remains contentious.

Ortiz believes it’s best for Price to just apologize so the team can “move on,” according to ESPN’s Scott Lauber.

Ortiz was at Fenway Park as part of a celebration of the 2007 Red Sox. He was asked about the situation while speaking with reporters. Ortiz didn’t just randomly offer up his take and inject himself into the situation.

Still, it could be perceived that way by members of the team. While Ortiz carries a lot of weight with the Red Sox, he’s no longer a constant presence in the clubhouse. He doesn’t know how everyone involved feels about the feud.

He does, however, know both Price and Eckersley. If Ortiz believes the two need to bury the hatchet, it’s probably coming from a good place.

Since the rift began, the Red Sox have gone 12-13 in July. It’s the first month in which the team has posted a losing record this season. While it would be foolish to attribute that to an argument between Price and Eckersley, having to answer questions about it constantly could frustrate the players even further.

Making amends won’t guarantee the Red Sox will turn things around, but it’s one fewer distraction the team needs to worry about as they push for the postseason in the second half.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik