Price: It's fine if Blue Jays fans boo me
In less than three weeks, David Price will step onto the mound at Rogers Centre wearing the enemy colors of the Boston Red Sox in front of a Toronto Blue Jays fan base that adored him just six months prior.
Acquired by the Blue Jays at the non-waiver deadline, Price went 9-1 during his three-month stint in Toronto before signing with their division rivals for a record-setting $217-million in December.
The left-hander continues to speak fondly of his time in Toronto and previously described the atmosphere during his Blue Jays' debut in August as something he's never experienced before. However, he expects fans to be much more hostile this time around.
"I'm gonna get booed," Price told Steve Phillips of TSN during an exclusive interview. "(Marcus) Stroman's already asked for it. I think they're going to listen to their guy."
Price added, "If they want to boo that's all right. There won't be any hard feelings. I know some fans definitely appreciated what I was able to do while I was there and some fans aren't fond of where I went and that's part of it."
Despite Price helping propel the Blue Jays to their first division title since 1993, the departure of general manager Alex Anthopoulos and introduction of a new front-office regime led to the organization not even making an offer for Price, much to the surprise of his agent.
"I think there was kind of questions up in the air, cause I didn't know what was going to go on with Alex and stuff like that," Price said. "But I know those guys enjoyed having me and I definitely enjoyed being there."
Price is projected to start against the Blue Jays on either April 9 or 10th after taking the ball for the Red Sox season opener in Cleveland on April 4.
Boston represents the fourth organization for the eight-year veteran, and Price acknowledged it's never easier pitching against your former team.
"It's tough whenever they're in the box and step in for the first time," Price said. "Then you start thinking about all the good times you had together. You spend more time with your teammates than you do with your family throughout the course of the season. A lot goes into it."