Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price opts out of 2020 season
Jul 4, 2020, 2:10 PM
David Price #33 and Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers answer questions from the media during an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium on February 12, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without one of their high-profile acquisitions from this past offseason.
Left-handed pitcher David Price, who came to the Dodgers as part of the Mookie Betts trade, announced that he has opted out of playing in the 2020 season.
“It is in the best interest of my health and of my family’s health for me to not play this season,” he said in a message posted to Twitter. “I will miss my teammates and will be cheering for them throughout the season and on to a World Series victory.”
— David Price (@DAVIDprice24) July 4, 2020
Price made news earlier this offseason when it was reported that he would give $1,000 to every Dodgers minor league player not on the 40-man roster.
His absence will ease the burden on the Arizona Diamondbacks, who already struggle to defeat the Dodgers even without the longtime star.
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Price, who won the 2012 American League Cy Young Award and has thrice been a top-two finisher, has a career ERA of 3.31.
Last year, his 4.28 ERA was marred by three bad games in which he allowed 19 runs in eight total innings. In his other 19 outings, he had an ERA of 2.90.
The Dodgers starting rotation will still include aces Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler and left-handed pitchers Julio Urias and Alex Wood.
Price’s contract, which will pay him $32 million per season through the remainder of its life, runs through 2022.
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