TORONTO – Despite all the doomsaying that star pitcher David Price would bolt from the Blue Jays this offseason, there may be reason for optimism after all.
Off-season scuttlebutt has generally pointed to Price leaving Toronto for bigger-market teams, with the Chicago Cubs recently rumored to be the top choice.
Price reportedly loves playing in Toronto and loves the superstar treatment he’s received here so far. Especially the popcorn.
A late-season acquisition, Price made his Toronto debut on Aug. 3 to a sold-out raucous Rogers Centre crowd. After the win, he told reporters, “That was the best atmosphere I’ve ever been in.”
Regardless of where he ends up, the star southpaw will command serious money in the offseason. While he struggled in the playoffs, he was dominant in the regular season with a 9-1 record and was instrumental in locking down the team’s first postseason spot in 22 years. The 30-year-old is expected to command a deal worth approximately $200 million.
Price himself is playing his cards close to the chest, even messing with some fans on Twitter.
Some Price fans are pledging to do their personal best to keep him in Toronto.
The website AnyPriceForDavid lets fans offer personal incentives to add to Price’s contract should he remain a Jay.
Some are rather tame, including an offer to buy dinner – which a $200 million free agent can probably do himself – but others go above and beyond, including:
- Writing an opera about Price’s dog Astro;
- Cleaning up after Astro;
- Mowing Price’s lawn for the rest of his life;
- Buying a lifetime’s supply of popcorn (Price is on the record saying Rogers Centre popcorn in the best in the league).
The site says it will send all proposed pledges to Price’s agent on Friday.
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