David Price says pitching for Tigers was 'special'

Detroit -- David Price always had hoped he wouldn't be traded. He liked it in Tampa Bay. That was home.

In the end, he called it "a blessing" he ended up in Detroit.

"It was special," he said, softly, following the Tigers' season-ender Sunday, a 2-1 loss to the Orioles. "It wasn't something that I wished had happened, just being traded in general.

"The way the front office, Dave (Dombrowski) included, all the guys in the clubhouse, all my teammates, they treated me extremely well. That's all I can ask."

The Tigers gave up a lot to get Price, 29, the ace left-hander who led the American League in strikeouts and innings this season. Austin Jackson, Drew Smyly and prospect Willy Adames all left Detroit so Price could help in a playoff push.

And he did his job.

Though he had some uncharacteristic shaky starts as a Tiger, he was pure gold in the regular-season finale that clinched the division for the Tigers. And he went eight impressive innings in Game 3 of the ALDS, giving the Tigers a chance to stay alive.

It didn't happen. So you move on. Some Tigers will be doing so, literally.

Price, though, is under club control for 2015 before becoming a free agent next offseason. He's arbitration eligible in a few weeks, meaning he'll get a raise from the $14 million he made this year.

The Tigers and Price will have 2015 contract discussions so they can avoid a hearing, so there's a chance the sides talk long-term, too, given Max Scherzer is likely to leave, after turning down Detroit's six-year, $144-million offer this spring.

Of course, Price wasn't concerning himself with his contract late Sunday night, not amid a clubhouse of red eyes.

"It's the last thing on my mind right now. I'm not worried about that," he said. "That's out of my control."

tpaul@detroitenws.com

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