Tampa Bay Rays Owner Doesn’t Regret David Price Trade
Aug 5, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg doesn’t regret the decision to trade David Price to the Detroit Tigers.
#Rays Sternberg says no regrets over Price trade, part of way they have to do business
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 9, 2014
In addition to saying it’s the way the Rays have to do business in order to stay competitive, he added, “With David it wasn’t three, four, five, eight guys and I think people got that and understood that we’re still in it to win it,” Sternberg said. “It really was the classic one-eye-on-the-present, one-eye-on-the-future kind of deal.”
“It doesn’t make things easier today,” Sternberg said. “But it’s never easy for us.”
The Rays traded Price to the Tigers at the trade deadline, acquiring pitcher Drew Smyly and shortstop Willy Adames as well as infielder Nick Franklin from the Seattle Mariners.
Due to the Rays dismal start to the 2014 season, the Rays were faced with the tough choice of whether to keep Price through the season and see if they can make the playoffs, or move him to another team.
Price becomes a free agent at the end of the 2015 season and it was always clear the Rays couldn’t afford to keep him. Rather than let him walk away, alas Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, the Rays opted to trade him instead.
Sternberg also added that his one regret as an owner was when he didn’t add a bat during the 2010 season. The Rays went 96-66 that season winning the AL East but lost to the Texas Rangers 3-2 in the ALCS.