FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Manny Ramirez approached an unsuspecting reporter and sprayed him with a fruity cologne.

“Now you smell like a gentleman,” the smiling left fielder said.

And what perfume was it?

“Lacoste,” he replied. “You know, I have to save money. Things are bad.”

Ramirez, obviously joking, is having the time of his life.

Often viewed as a sullen outcast in Cleveland and during his first years in Boston, Ramirez opened up to the media and the public last season, showing the funny and outspoken personality his teammates have come to expect.

Although still timid when talking in English, Ramirez opens up when speaking in his native Spanish, engaging in a funny, frank and long conversation about his past, present and future in baseball and life.

Ramirez says he is satisfied with his accomplishments on the field, where he has become one of the most feared hitters in baseball over the past decade. He has led the AL in slugging percentage three times, twice in on-base percentage and once in batting average and home runs.

He also has seven consecutive seasons with more than 100 RBIs, and is a .316 career hitter with 390 homers in 12 seasons.

“I feel very happy with what I’ve accomplished,” Ramirez said. “I know I’m human, and I’m not going to hit .300, 40 home runs and 100 RBI ever year. I’m satisfied with what I do.”

One of the most criticized aspects of his game is his dubious defense in the outfield, where he sometimes appears distracted. Ramirez says he works hard on improving his defense, and is just happy with the way he is. Even if people think he is absent-minded.

“Every day I go out and shag fly balls, I work extra hard, always trying to improve. I might make mistakes, I’m no Gold Glover, but I know I can play there,” he said.

He says winning the World Series last year was the most satisfying experience of his career, and now he wants to repeat.

“We’ve got that feeling, which is the best in the world,” he said. “We’re trying to do like the Yankees, win it every year.”

Ramirez insists he’s not distracted by trade rumors, despite the fact that his name has been linked to several since Boston tried to acquire Alex Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers last year.

“I don’t think about that, because I know this is a business,” he said. “When you’ve seen so many good players like you, or better than you, leave, you know it’s a business. You can be here today, and somewhere else tomorrow.”

Ramirez would like to finish his career with the Red Sox, but again cautions “you’ve got to know this is a business.” He says he lives by a simple mantra: “Have fun and play hard. That’s all you have to do.”

“I enjoy this, I have fun,” he said.

Ramirez thinks of himself as being old, but at 33 he remains relatively young for a baseball player. He says he’ll finish his $160 million, eight-year contract, which has four years remaining.

And what will he do then?

“I’ll go to a farm in Santo Domingo, to have fun and not worry,” he said.