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Tigers' Price on 2014: 'Probably the most stressful year I've had in the big leagues'

Jesse Johnson / USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers left-hander David Price has built a career on consistency and routine, so it should come as little surprise that a mid-season trade last July disrupted his rhythm. 

"That was definitely the longest year I've had in the big leagues," Price told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. "Probably the most stressful year I've had in the big leagues."

With extension talks between Price and the Tampa Bay Rays broken off, the four-time All-Star was the subject in rumors from prior to spring training until the trade to the Tigers finally became a reality.

Price expressed his frustration earlier in June, claiming that all the speculation had put him in a bad mood, but that anger led to a dominant pitching performance on the mound. He made five straight starts for the Rays that month in which he struck out at least 10 batters. 

When he was eventually traded, Price's transition to Detroit was a difficult one. The Tigers were on the road for most of August and he never really got acclimated until the season was almost over. Adding to the exhaustion, the former Cy Young winner pitched a career-high 248 1/3 innings.

"I definitely felt I was drained at the end of last year," Price said. "I was drained physically, but I felt I was drained mentally as well, so just kind of letting everything recharge, it feels good right now."

Price and the Tigers avoided arbitration with a one-year, $19.75-million deal in January and he said he is willing to discuss an extension - though there has yet to be any negotiations.

"This is not somewhere that I disliked," Price told MLB.com's Jason Beck last month. "I only said that it was different, and it's not different anymore. It's more normal now, knowing all the guys, knowing all the coaches, knowing everybody's name and stuff like that."

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