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Tigers GM: 'We've never had any trade discussions about David Price this winter'

Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports

While the Detroit Tigers have yet to engage in long-term extension talks with upcoming free agent David Price, the team hasn't had any conversations about moving the left-hander either.

"I will tell you and I can safely tell you we've never had any trade discussions about David Price this winter," general manager Dave Dombrowski told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. "People have talked, I cannot tell you that somebody had not inquired about him a time or two, but we were never in discussions to trade him." 

The Tigers avoided arbitration with Price last week, agreeing to a one-year, $19.75-million deal - the largest one-year salary for an arbitration-eligible player ever.

Already loaded with numerous long-term, expensive contracts (Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Victor Martinez, Anibal Sanchez, Ian Kinsler), extending Price isn't going to come cheap - though it appears the Tigers intend to try and keep him beyond next season. 

"We hope he stays a Tiger for a long time," Dombrowski said. 

Price's acquisition at the non-waiver trade deadline last July helped give the Tigers one of the best one-two punches in the majors, but the former Cy Young winner will be asked to carry a larger load in 2015 following the departure of Max Scherzer.

"We made a move at that time to not only win at that point with David, but also knew he'd be able to pitch for us this year," Dombrowski said. "So I think he really steps in and replaces Max and we're in a spot there where we have two of the same guys."

Price acknowledged following the Tigers first-round playoff exit that he had a difficult time adjusting to a new city and a new team after spending the first six-plus years of his career in Tampa Bay. His GM can sympathize. 

"I think in David Price's defense, which would be any player's defense, you're somewhere for your whole career from the day you drafted, you're comfortable there, you live 5-10 minutes from the ballpark and get traded to a new team," he said.

"In addition, in August, we're on the road for the whole month of August so he never really got a chance to get settled. He comes here in September and he's in a spot where he doesn't really know his way around very well, so it's tough to get comfortable in that type of scenario."

Price arrived in Detroit pitching some of the best baseball of his career but posted a rather unimpressive - by his standards - 4-4 record and 3.59 ERA in 11 starts for the Tigers. Nevertheless, Price still made a strong impression on the organization and his teammates. 

"He's a quality guy," Dombrowski said. "His teammates like him, he likes his teammates, he likes the situation here and he knows how we feel about him. We like him a great deal."

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