David Price wasn’t satisfied with his first season in a Red Sox uniform, telling Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that “last year was the first time in my career I didn’t have fun when I was on the field.” Price’s 2016 season (3.99 ERA, 8.9 K/9, and 4.56 K/BB rate over a league-best 230 innings) counts as a down year only by his high standards, though the southpaw did post a career-high 1.17 HR/9 and he struggled in his only postseason start. Price signed a seven-year, $217MM contract with the Sox last winter, and while that deal contains an opt-out clause after the 2018 campaign, Price said he will remain in Boston throughout the life of the contract. Even if Price delivers better numbers in 2017-18, he’ll be entering his age-33 season when he’s officially faced with the decision to opt out, which could make it hard for him to top the $127MM he’s already slated to earn from the Sox from 2019-2022.
Here’s more from around the American League East…
- Speaking to Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (Twitter link), Rays GM Erik Neander says his team “will continue to have an open mind” about moving another starting pitcher. Trade rumors have swirled around Tampa’s rotation all winter, seemingly culminating in the deal that sent Drew Smyly to the Mariners earlier this week. Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi and Alex Cobb also drew interest, so it’s not out of the question that the Rays would deal another starter if they can score a significant return.
- In a recent radio interview with 105.7 The Fan (hat tip to MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko), Chris Tillman reiterated that he would love to sign an extension to remain with the Orioles. There doesn’t appear to be much progress in talks between the two sides (“I haven’t heard anything, I haven’t seen anything,” Tillman said), though the right-hander did note that he lets his agent handle business negotiations until late in the process. The O’s began preliminary talks with Tillman’s representation last month, and Kubatko figures more serious discussions will take place during Spring Training to see if a deal can be reached before Opening Day. Tillman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $10.05MM deal for 2017, and he is eligible for free agency next winter.
- The Blue Jays’ rotation enjoyed an unusual amount of good health in 2016, Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star writes, and such durability will probably be hard to replicate this season. With the Jays short on depth options, it opens the door for top prospects Sean Reid-Foley or Conner Greene to emerge as potential late-season call-ups.
I may be letting my mind wander, but I wonder exactly what Price meant by not having fun.
Read the article. One thing it mentions is fans were yelling racial slurs at him.
So yeah you run your mouth about it and guess what happens bozo
so he’s a bozo for saying it’s not fun to have racial slurs yelled at you? You consider that “running his mouth”? You sir, are an ass.
Boston has always had a reputation for racism towards their sports teams, and as a city in general. I don’t understand why fans would do that to, arguably, the best pitcher in baseball not named kershaw
I’m a Redsox season ticket holder and I find labeling a city racist based on this sad. My recommendation is stop serving alcohol at these events. I can honestly say I’ve been going to games since the 70’s and have never experienced any racial insensitivity.
He probably wasn’t having fun because of his rather poor results.
Good question, I wondered the same thing.
Same thing that every high profile FA means about not having fun in Boston. The ignorant deluded RSN gives them a one game grace period (maybe) and then starts heckling them in public and in chat. Not sure why anyone would want to play in Boston with its rundown dump of a stadium (yes, I have been there many times and feel I need a tetanus shot every time) and its caustic, hostile crowd.
Just another Red Sox bust signing
Like Porcello?
They traded Cespedes for Porcello.
Which could’ve netted them fulmer @ way cheaper.
Yeah good trade to get Porcello … do it anyway and get the premadona out of town
Price->2017 AL Cy Young
probably more likely than porcello repeating
Lol
Truth
Maybe Price should opt out if he so unhappy
Lol Bostons not getting that lucky. But if he states he’s staying there for the contract anyways, why negotiate an opt out?
Maybe Boston fans should represent our city better and not throw racist slurs at the guy whose only goal is to bring victory and acclaim to our city. Shameful. Although, sadly, not surprising.
This comment! Finally someone who knows how to be human.
His goal is money, he probably cares less about Boston.
The funny part is, Boston is supposed to be this beacon of progressiveness. Yet the Libs can’t help but get drunk and show their collective butts! I’m from Mass and my “friends” get on me for being conservative. I love it when I see stories like this and realize how backward and ignorant they all really are! Lol sorry David, for the over educated idiots in Boston. Stay and prove them all wrong!
You got all of that out of them being from Boston?
In Boston, the relatively liberal city of millions, you get all kinds of folks including conservatives, racists, puppet voters even. To imply that somehow liberals are actually two faced racists is an odd stretch to make. I’ve been to about a dozen Sox games and sat throughout the park. Never heard a racial slur thrown at anyone, homers or visitors. Which is not to say that nasty things have not been said to players on the field, but it was just your average trash talking. Price was a shadow of his former self excepting the innings pitched. He is a very competitive guy who loves to be the top dog. The reason he didn’t have fun on the field was because he didn’t dominate as he has throughout his career, notbecause of racism in the stands.
Unnecessary and misinformed.
Bet I know who he voted for in the presidential election. Misinformed was their mantra.
“Over educated idiots.” That’s a new one.
This happens in every single city. There is racism everywhere.
I don’t think he was unhappy. He said he wasn’t having fun. I’m guessing it had to do with sub par results by his standards. Not everything has to do with money.
agreed. I was (and am) a big fan of Price’s (I’m a TB fan). this is a guy who holds himself to the highest standards and works incredibly hard for his teammates and the fans. just because someone gets paid well does not make them “only about the money” by default. Those of you out there passing judgement without anything but a down year really should reevaluate your stance. Go back and read his interviews, read about how his teammates and coaches speak about him and his work ethic, watch his videos he posts, watch how he is always cheering on his teammates in the dugout even when not pitching – this guy really cares and wants to provide nothing but the best when on and off the field. He worked tirelessly trying to correct what he thought could be mechanics issues last year…give the poor guy a chance. You Boston fans that are being so quick to judgement don’t deserve him – take after your more intelligent fellow Boston fans and take a second to realize that one slightly down season does not “ruin a contract”.
When you sign for that much money you are obviously held to a higher standard. There is a learning curve for players when they first sign with a big market team. You go from a team that has two beat writers to twenty following the team daily is quite a difference. Living in the suburbs to condo downtown. Everyone can’t play in Boston and NY. Some guys just can’t handle the added pressure regardless of their skill set. No one should have to put up with racial slurs regardless of where they play.
All he has to do now is play because he already earned his contract. I’m sure he just finally had a chance to relax in the offseason instead of working on stuff, I bet he rebounds nicely next year.
Great point. No more contract talks. Price now gets to rest and take it easy.
The Blue Jays need to sign Bautista since they lost Encarnación to Cleveland . They need to keep their offense going and with Pearce and smoak I don’t believe it will be enough. Hopefully the starting rotation put up similar numbers as last year. They are so close to a World Series. Right now is not the time to be trying to save a few dollars. They broke the 3 million fans milestone for the first time in a long time. Fans are fans if the bluejays don’t win games, fan will stop going to game and the attendance will drop quickly. They probably have two or three year of contention before Donaldson leaves and tulo is not getting any younger. If the management don’t start filing the teams needs it will take them not 22 years to make it to the postseason more like a century.
How a pitcher who puts up 4.5 War is considered a failure in Boston amazes me. Yes, he has a big contract but racial slurs? Boston fans should be better than that.
I wouldn’t say it’s “Boston fans”. There’s terrible people that root for every team. Still sickening that people would do it.
People expect to much given his past results and that contract. When his stuff isn’t what it once was he’s still a good pitcher and could easily see him being a finalist for the al cy young award if he cuts down on the Homer’s but like you indicated he was way more than a useful pitcher last season.
Yeah think that element is just about everywhere… but it will get worse now since he mentioned it…. bad idea
Sadly, it’s fans of all generations and still has not gotten any better than it was during the 60’s and 70’s. Still fringe groups of racist people, along with drunks at ball parks that should be tossed out immediately after being spotted, even if by fans to security after any mention of this type of display.
It is uncalled for and shouldn’t be called for, even suspending these same fans fro entering the parks, call for identity to entering parks.
Gee war or no war you get that kinda money you better bring your A game to the table which he simple didn’t do, and he started the routine of not being happy after just about ever start and by the end of the year it was broken record time
The 4.5 WAR is the Fangraphs WAR which is based on FIP. He had a lot of strikeouts so that’s why that number is so high. I think the Baseball Reference pitcher WAR of 3.0 is a better representation of his performance. He was still good, just not worth 30M last year.
Wasn’t Boston the last AL team to add a black player? Not surprising that that element is still around. Every city has it to some extent. Unfortunately.
Honestly, the media here in Boston makes people have unrealistic expectations for David Price. They never mention WAR or give Price credit for some of the stellar games he has had. They focus on the money and the bad games he has and thus Boston fans take in that info and lash out towards Price.
Felger and Mazz mention WAR all the time
No one should tell racial slurs against any race no matter but this crap of hyper sensitivity by most in America is getting very old.
I would think that if you really didn’t like a player–whether he was on the other team, or one of your guys but not performing as well as you would like–you could simply boo him without getting into the gutter. But, that’s me.
That would take class which some fans don’t exhibit which every team has a contingent of them. It’s pretty pathetic.
You don’t get to tell people how they should feel. That’s like punching someone in the face and telling them it doesn’t hurt.
Agreed… no response and it goes away… crying about it and it gets worse …
You really believe that? Do you think the civil rights legislation would have passed without people marching in the streets, speaking about injustices, creating a national discourse about these important issues. I know this pales in comparison but I don’t think racism should fall into the category of sticks and stones. Unfortunately I think ignoring it allows complacency and allows those types of attacks to continue. If you want to have a short leash and call him a bum or whatever fine but racism is ignorant and hurtful and doesn’t belong…
I don’t think complaining about racism being used is being “hypersensitive”. People should call out that bs. Shine a light on it so we can weed it out and eliminate it, not ignore it and call those who point it out hypersensitive. It’s 2017 people.
He could easily opt out entering age-33 with $126m guaranteed. Greinke just got $206m entering age-32 a year ago. Of course his performance would have to get back up to regular levels.
He doesn’t even have to return to being that good he could easily drop half a run off of his era that puts him with a 3.49 era with 230 innings with his strikeouts that’s a pretty good season pitching in the al east. But that would require him to cut down on his home runs.
I live in central Florida, and I’ve seen David pitch several times, I have to admit I really don’t like him but respect his skills, I think he will do better next year, we have the luxury of a very good pitching staff that is anchored by him, as far as racial slurs, there are idiots everywhere and they should not be tolerated
I lived in the condo next to him in Toronto. Bumped into him a few times at Starbucks still rocking the Vanderbilt track suit, super nice guy! Not sure why you don’t like him, the guy goes above and beyond and engages fans in the public.
David, No Red Sox fan was satisfied……
Take out his starts against Yankees and his numbers are really good. Yankees have always had Prices number.
Cobb will be dealt to the Cubs or whichever of Texas, M’s, or Astros miss out on the Quintana sweepstakes.