MLB star pitcher David Price took a full-page ad in the sports section of Tuesday’s Tampa Bay Times to thank his former club, the Tampa Bay Rays, after he was traded last week to the Detroit Tigers.
The Tampa Bay Rays traded Price, the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, in a three-way deal that sent him to Detroit in exchange for left-hander Drew Smyly and shortstop prospect Willy Adames from the Tigers.
The ad reads as follows:
Thank you, St. Petersburg and thank you, Tampa. I’ve lived in both of you and enjoyed every minute.
Thank you, fans. I heard you ringing your bells each time I had two strikes. I heard your applause when I walked off the field. I heard your groans in support of me with close calls on balls and strikes. I heard you, I felt your presence, and I so appreciate you.
Thank you, Joe Maddon and Jim Hickey. You’ve believed in me. You’ve taught me. You’ve given me opportunities to shine. I will have you with me in every game the rest of my career.
Thank you, Cuz, Stanley Mc, Holmes, Foles, Davey, Shelty, Nelly Nel, and the amazing Don Zimmer. You’ve all meant so very much to me.
Thank you to my incredible Rays teammates. You have been my brothers and greatest friends. Thank you for our times together.
Thank you, Rick Vaughn, Westy, Ronnie P, Nation, and Vinword. I couldn’t have made it through a day without you guys.
Thank you, Rays organization. From Vinny in the parking lot, to Berte outside our clubhouse, to Papito, Beans, Champ, T-Wall, Sexy Black, Nasty Nate, and all the many wonderful people who helped and supported me each day I was at the Trop. Thank you for being there.
Thank you, Stu Sternberg and Andrew Friedman. Thank you for drafting me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to know all of the people I’ve mentioned above and the opportunity to experience the last six years playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. I’ll forever be grateful.
Astro and I love you all. We miss you already. Although we begin a new chapter on the mound tonight, we will never forget you.
Love,
David & Astro Price
Price, 11-8 with a 3.11 ERA and 189 strikeouts this season, will make his Tigers debut Tuesday night against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Price made his major league debut with the Rays on September 14, 2008, against the Yankees. The Rays went on that year to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series but lost 4-1.
In 2012, Price went 20–5 on the season (tying for the league lead in wins) with a league-leading 2.54 ERA and won the AL Cy Young Award. Earlier he had pitched a complete game shutout against the Los Angeles Angels, pitched in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and got his 20th win against the Chicago White Sox. That win made Price the first 20-win pitcher in Rays franchise history, as well as becoming the youngest American League pitcher (aged 27) to earn 20 wins in a season since 2004.
Murfreesboro is Price’s hometown, he attended Blackman High School while playing for both the baseball and basketball teams. In college, he attended Vanderbilt University and played three seasons. In his last season, he won several major national awards, including the 2007 Dick Howser Trophy (college baseball’s highest honor), and the 2007 Brooks Wallace Award.
