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Pedro: Price's health key to fixing his relationship with Boston media

Cliff McBride / Getty Images Sport / Getty

David Price has had a rocky time with Boston's sports media, seemingly from the moment he signed a seven-year, $217-million contract before the 2016 season. He may already know the perfect brain to pick on how to go about dealing with the strain.

Legendary Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez had his fair share of difficulties with the Boston media, and he sees Price's health as a key to overcoming adversity. Pedro believes if Price can get healthy and learn to let the negativity slide, he'll develop a better relationship with local reporters.

"Now when you're struggling and you're hurt and you can't show everybody else what you're capable of doing, it's a little bit frustrating, so for the media, they start digging to ask when are you going to pitch, when are you going to feel better, when are you going to be able to contribute with the team," Pedro told WEEI's John Tomase.

"It's frustrating. I don't blame him for feeling a little bit cranky. But at the same time, I expect the media to really just stop and look at this guy perform. And I think he's going to be able to do that because he's healthy, he's got enough rest. And they will see how much fun he is and how good of a guy he is."

Pedro has offered his advice to Price before, previously urging the mercurial pitcher to simply keep his answers honest to the media's questions in June of last season.

Despite being the team's workhorse starter in his debut campaign - logging an MLB-leading 230 innings across 35 starts - Price struggled at times, and posted a 3.99 ERA. The following spring, he suffered an elbow injury that kept him out of the rotation until late May, all while his relationship with Boston's media continued to sour.

By the time Price returned to the mound, plenty of drama had already surfaced. In March, he said the media and fans didn't care about him as a person. He refused to talk to the media after a rough rehab start in May, and later said he'd only speak to reporters on the days when he pitches.

The tensions all came to a boil when Price had a heated confrontation with Hall of Famer-turned-broadcaster Dennis Eckersley on a team flight.

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