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David Price’s future with Blue Jays uncertain as ace pitcher awaits Cy Young verdict

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price delivers to Troy Tulowitzki during a simulated game before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Blue Jays Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price delivers to Troy Tulowitzki during a simulated game before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Blue Jays Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla. AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

TORONTO — David Price can join a select list of Blue Jays on Wednesday when the American League Cy Young Award winner is announced.

But even if Price is right for the award, the free agent pitcher may be an asterisk on the Jays’ list of winners – Roy Halladay (2003), Roger Clemens (1997, ’98) and Pat Hentgen (1996) – given his Toronto days could well be over.

Price (18-5), who joined Toronto on July 30 in a deal with Detroit just ahead of the trade deadline, is up against Sonny Gray (14-7) of the Oakland Athletics and Dallas Keuchel (20-8) of the Houston Astros for the AL award.

READ MORE: Pitcher Marco Estrada says returning to Blue Jays was always his first choice

The six-foot-six Price won the award in 2012 with Tampa Bay.

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Interim Jays GM Tony LaCava was cagey when asked about Price on Tuesday.

“Without being specific to any one guy, we’re engaged with a number of free agents and we’re talking to a lot of teams as well,” he said.

The Cubs have already been linked to Price, who is expected to land a contract in excess of US$200 million.

Price went 9-1 with a 2.30 earned-run average in 11 starts with the Jays. He ranked first in the American League in earned-run average (2.45), third in innings pitched (220.1) tied for third in quality starts (24) and was fourth in strikeouts (225).

READ MORE: Blue Jays believe winning ball club will help attract coveted free agents

The National League Cy Young winner will also be announced Wednesday with Jake Arrieta (22-6) of the Chicago Cubs and Zack Greinke (19-3) and Clayton Kershaw (16-7) of the Los Angeles Dodgers vying for the award. Kershaw has won the award in three of the last four years.

The Jays are also in the mix for AL MVP on Thursday with third baseman Josh Donaldson up against Lorenzo Cain of the Kansas City Royals and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.

Donaldson, who arrived prior to the 2015 season in a deal with Oakland, hit .297 with 41 home runs and 123 RBIs. Twenty-seven of his homers either tied the game or gave Toronto the lead.

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Jays slugger George Bell won the AL MVP in 1987.

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