If you live in Tampa Bay and you are headed to a Rays game in April, David Price won't be there.
On Wednesday, in a move that really shocked me, David Price and four others were optioned to Triple-A Durham.
While the move didn't shock Price and others, I still wasn't expecting it, not after what he accomplished in the playoffs last year to help the Rays win the AL Championship.
Price said he "absolutely" believes Rays intended to send him down no matter how he pitched this spring and he wasn't surprised to be cut.
"Not a bit," he said. "I knew it was coming. It's part of it."
While it sounded like Price wasn't bothered by this move, his short answers tell me otherwise.
I think he really wanted to start out the season at the big league level, and I think he deserves to be on the Rays roster Opening Day.
Price also stated he plans to stay away from the park for a day and maybe go hit a few golf balls, before reporting to minor league camp later this week.
Rays manager Joe Maddon had stated that he wanted Price to pitch around 175 innings this year and if he was on the team all season, which will be hard to accomplish with Price in the minors.
With Price out, the rotation looks to be set with Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine, and Jeff Niemann.
Price should be up before mid-May, until then, he will have to sit on my Fantasy Baseball roster and collect dust, I'll be looking forward to activate him when he returns.
Quotes taken from the Tampa Tribune
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