Report: Multiple teams talking to Red Sox about Price

The Boston Red Sox are looking for ways to shed payroll this offseason, and trading left-handed starter David Price may be in the cards.

Multiple teams have targeted the veteran southpaw in trade talks, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Price has three years and $96 million remaining on the seven-year, $217-million contract he signed with Boston before the 2016 campaign. It was the most lucrative deal for a pitcher until Stephen Strasburg re-signed with the Washington Nationals this week for seven years and $245 million.

One team that's spoken with Boston about Price is the San Diego Padres, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Price, a five-time All-Star, has battled injuries throughout most of his Red Sox tenure and also entered a fairly public feud with broadcaster Dennis Eckersley. Overall, Price has gone 46-24 with a 3.84 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 588 innings across four seasons.

He was also cruising to what appeared to be his best season in Beantown in 2019. Through July 14, Price was 7-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings across 17 starts. Subsequent ineffectiveness and a lingering wrist injury caused him to go 0-3 in his final five starts while ballooning his ERA to 4.28 on the season.

Price didn't pitch again after Sept. 1.

While he's historically struggled in the postseason, Price was at his best during the 2018 World Series. He posted a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Red Sox claimed their second title of the decade.