Today marks David Price‘s 41st birthday.
Although Price was with the Blue Jays for just three months, those months were incredibly exciting.
The Blue Jays acquired him on July 30th, 2015, when the team was 52-51, tied for second place and six games behind the Yankees. After Price joined, the Jays went 41-18 and finished first in the AL East, sparking an exhilarating ALDS against the Rangers and a thrilling ALCS versus the Royals (though, unfortunately, it didn’t end in our favor).
Price posted an impressive 9-1 record in 11 starts for the Jays (remarkably earning 10 decisions) with a 2.30 ERA. However, he struggled during the playoffs.
The Jays finished six games ahead of the Yankees. While no single player can account for a 12-game swing over 59 games, the addition of Price (and Troy Tulowitzki) energized the team.
Off the mound, Price was a joy to have around. He was the team’s head cheerleader, loved Rogers Centre popcorn, and appeared to relish every moment. Reports highlighted his positive presence in the clubhouse, making him very hard not to like.
After the season, Price signed as a free agent with the Red Sox, agreeing to a seven-year, $217 million contract. Over five years, he posted a 46-24 record with a 3.84 ERA across 103 games (98 starts). While he may not have been worth every penny, he was solid—if somewhat inconsistent—and missed time due to injuries.
In February 2020, the Red Sox traded Price and Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. Price opted out of the 2020 season. In 2021, he went 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA in 39 games (11 starts). The following year, he was 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 40 relief appearances before retiring after the season.
Happy birthday, David. Wishing you a wonderful day.
Former Jays prospect Darin Mastroianni also turns 41 today.
Darin appeared on our top 40 prospects lists several times—ranked 10th in 2011, and previously 22nd and 26th.
The Jays lost him to the Twins on waivers before the 2012 season. He played parts of two seasons and three weeks with Minnesota, hitting .214/.286/.286 with 3 home runs and 25 steals (caught four times) in 121 games.
In April 2014, Toronto reclaimed him off waivers. He played just 14 games for the Jays, hitting .156/.156/.250. Afterwards, he moved on to the Phillies, Nationals, returned to the Twins (appearing in seven more MLB games), and then to the Rangers. He hasn’t played in the majors since 2016.
His best MLB season was in 2012, when he played 77 games and hit .252/.328/.350 with 21 steals. He excelled defensively in the outfield and was frequently used as a pinch runner or defensive replacement.
I had high hopes for Darin. In the minors, he drew walks, got on base, and was a standout base stealer—swiping 70 bags between Dunedin and New Hampshire in 2009. However, his lack of power led higher-level pitchers to challenge him, forcing him to earn his way on base by hitting.
Happy birthday, Darin.
Jayson Nix celebrates his 44th birthday today.
Nix enjoyed an eight-year MLB career, playing for eight different teams.
He played 46 games for the Jays in 2011, hitting .169/.256/.309 with four home runs. Nix then joined the Yankees, spending two seasons as a fill-in for the oft-injured or suspended Alex Rodriguez. He performed a bit better in New York, hitting .239/.307/.340 in 161 games over two years. Afterward, he played one final MLB season with three different teams.
Over his seven-year career, he hit .212/.282/.345 in 466 games.
Happy birthday, Jayson.
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