Dodgers News: Dodgers Held No. 14 For David Price Early In Off-Season
Since the Los Angeles Dodgers fell in Game 6 of the NLCS last October, they’ve been mentioned in a number of rumors that could have given them more weapons at the expense of their farm system.
One of the biggest names speculated to be traded to the Dodgers was Tampa Bay Rays’ left-hander David Price. It was recently reported that the Dodgers turned down a chance to acquire the former Cy Young award winner.
Now, according to Buster Olney of ESPN, it seems that the team was expecting to potentially land the left-hander:
Early in the offseason, the Dodgers did not assign No. 14 right away — which happens to be the number of David Price. But as the winter wore on and Price remained with the Rays, Dan Haren signed with the Dodgers and he got No. 14.
Haren was signed a little over a month after the season ended and late enough in the off-season for the Dodgers to know whether Price was on his way. Last season, Price struggled but is just one season removed from going 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA and winning the American League Cy Young award. If the Dodgers had acquired Price, it would have given them three Cy Young award winners in the rotation and given them the best rotation in all of baseball.
Interestingly enough, when Haren signed, he chose number 11, but an outcry from Dodger fans that he was taking Manny Mota’s jersey made him change to 14.
Reportedly, the Dodgers could have acquired Price for a package of prospects including outfielder Joc Pederson, infielder Corey Seager and left-hander Julio Urias, but turned it down. Price could still be available this season or next off-season and the Dodgers will continue to be one of the teams rumored to acquire the left-hander. Unless the Dodgers get desperate or lose a top pitcher to a major injury, Price won’t be heading to LA and Haren will be able to keep his uniform number.
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