There was a delay and ultimately required the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete multiple trades, but they accomplished their offseason goal of adding marquee talent to the roster by acquiring Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox.
In a separate deal with the Minnesota Twins, the Dodgers traded for Brusdar Graterol, Luke Raley and a pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. The Dodgers have seen each of the aforementioned newcomers in Cactus League thus far, with the exception of Price.
His opportunity comes Monday in a start against the Cincinnati Reds, and when Price takes the mound for his Dodgers debut, it will be with exclusively pitching out of the stretch.
Price didn’t have much of a complex or deliberate windup anyhow, which he took into account along with the ability to affect opposing batters, according to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports
David Price told me the reason he will pitch out of the stretch exclusively because he believes he can disrupt hitters timing better out of the stretch. "I had better feel out of the stretch, the wind up didn't feel as good." #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) March 1, 2020
David Price also said he made his windup resemble pitching out of the stretch "That was a part of the reason why I made my windup the way I did is because you are going to make your biggest pitches while in the stretch." #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) March 1, 2020
Whatever approach the veteran left-hander takes this season, Price’s ability to pitch well will be key for the Dodgers in offsetting the losses of Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu. They remain flush in depth, but lack experience.
Furthermore, Dustin May (side) and Jimmy Nelson (lower back, groin) have both been shut down in Spring Training because of respective injuries. Price himself is coming off a season in which he wasn’t 100%, and that culminated with surgery to remove a cyst from his left wrist.
The 34-year-old has asserted he is healthy, capable of withstanding a full workload for an entire season, and gotten through live batting practice without issue. “I can tell a big difference in day-to-day activities,” Price said of his wrist.
“Using this offseason to get back to full health — this is the longest offseason I’ve had since I’ve been in the big leagues. For that to come at this time, to use that to get back healthy, everything feels really good right now.”
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