David Price was traded to the Detroit Tigers at the deadline on July 31 and is under a one-year, $19.75 million contract with the team for 2015. It's been talked about for quite a while, but will Detroit be able to sign the left-hander to a long-term extension?
Based on Price's words earlier today, it looks like the possibility of a long-term deal could become a reality. Earlier in the offseason it was noted that he and the Tigers hadn't entered any negotiations regarding such a contract and Price showed no such interest in doing so. It was suspected he didn't like Detroit or he merely wanted to test free agency since he would be slated to land a lucrative contract.
"This is not somewhere that I disliked," Price said, via Jason Beck of MLB.com. "I only said that it was different, and it's not different anymore. It's more normal now, knowing all the guys, knowing all the coaches, knowing everybody's name and stuff like that."
After all, the 29-year-old grew up in Tennessee and spent almost his entire career with the Tampa Bay Rays. Detroit, Michigan is big change of scenery for someone who has pretty much spent their life living in the South. And his new team understands that.
"I think in David Price's defense, which would be any player's defense, you're somewhere for your whole career from the day you drafted, you're comfortable there, you live 5-10 minutes from the ballpark and get traded to a new team," said general manager Dave Dombrowski in this Detroit Free Press article.
And as for Price's contract situation ...
"I'm open for anything, to be honest," the left-hander added. "But once you have -- I guess I'm about a week short of six years in the big leagues right now -- to get that far along in the process, some of you does kind of want to wait it out, but then some of you feels like, 'Well, if they're open to doing something, you can't close any doors.' That's the way I feel. I enjoy it here. I enjoy the staff and the guys and the stadium, everything of that nature."
It was speculated the Tigers could position themselves to make a run at James Shields to provide continuity atop the rotation beyond the 2015 season and convince Price to stay long-term since the two are good friends, but Dombrowski shot down those rumors quickly. And now, it may not even take Shields to convince Price to stay beyond the upcoming season, especially if the team performs well as they have for the past four seasons.
It's no secret Detroit is interested in keeping one of the best left-handed starters on their roster for as long as they can, but it's not up to them. Price is the man to decide if that's where he wants to be for the next five, six or seven years, which is something he'll likely take his time doing.
For now, Price will head into spring training atop a formidable starting rotation that includes Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon.
"We hope he stays a Tiger for a long time," Dombrowski said.
