Wednesday, February 20, 2013
No hometown discount for Price?
By Doug Mittler
It is anyone’s guess on how long AL Cy Young Award winner David Price, who is still three seasons away from free agency, remains with the Tampa Bay Rays.
A precedent may have been set this winter when the fiscally cautious Rays traded away fellow starter James Shields, who was under club control for two more seasons. For what it’s worth, Price made what has become a well-publicized swipe at the Yankees, telling Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com he would not sign as a free agent in the Bronx because of the club’s ban on facial hair.
“I wouldn’t sign a long-term deal there,” says the bearded Price. “Those rules, that’s old-school baseball. I was born in ’85. That’s not for me. That’s not something I want to be a part of.”
Somewhat overlooked in Morosi’s piece was Price’s reluctance to give the Rays a hometown discount. “I don’t play this game for the money, but I don’t want to be underappreciated,” Price said. “What I’ve done for this organization so far, I feel like I’ve helped this organization a great deal. So if they want to show me some appreciation, then fine.”
If Price stands by his words, it calls into serious question whether the Rays can work out a deal with the lefthander in the same multi-year framework they gave third baseman Evan Longoria.
