Just before the start of Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a trade with the Boston Red Sox to acquire not only a former MVP in Mookie Betts, but also a former Cy Young Award winner in David Price.
The trade was finalized the day before pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch for Spring Training, so Betts and Price didn’t have much time to process things before they were on the field wearing blue with their new teammates.
Unfortunately, just as soon as they seemed to be fitting in and with Opening Day around the corner, players were sent home and the whole league was shut down due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In an interview with David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports, Price detailed how difficult this hiatus has been for him to be away from his new teammates:
“I’m looking forward to getting out there, getting some at-bats and being with all my teammates again. That’s the toughest part, is all this got shut down so quick. You’re with your new teammates and you’re starting to bond and form those real relationships, and then it’s kind of all put on hold. You’re not supposed to be around big groups of people and all of that, so it’s been different to say the least.”
Not only was Price fitting into the Dodgers clubhouse, but he was also looking solid on the mound as he struck out seven in three shutout innings in his most recent Cactus League start.
He is coming off a bit of a rough season with the Red Sox in 2019, but a lot of that can be attributed to a wrist issue that he addressed by undergoing offseason surgery.
While Price may no longer be the pitcher he once was, he is now 100% healthy and should slot in nicely behind Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler in the Dodgers’ rotation. That is if baseball is able to resume this season, however, which remains to be seen.
If the season does end up getting cancelled altogether then that would be extremely unfortunate for the Dodgers as Betts would be able to hit free agency in the winter. Price, on the other hand, would still have two years remaining on his contract so would be back with the Dodgers in 2021.
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