Tampa Bay Rays Place David Price on DL

A strained triceps forced David Price from his start last night and has landed the left-hander on the DL. (Image Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

David Price has been placed on the disabled list thanks to a strained triceps, leaving the Tampa Bay Rays without their ace left-hander for the foreseeable future. He’ll be shut down completely for a few days before resuming a throwing program but it’s expected that he’ll miss at least a few weeks.

Price won 20 games and took home the AL Cy Young Award last season, but has struggled on the mound to start the 2013 season. He’s made nine starts on the year, posting a 1-4 mark and 5.24 ERA in 55.0 IP. Price didn’t win his first game until his sixth start and the Rays have lost seven of the nine. Numerous reports have suggested that he’s been experiencing a dip in velocity on the year, potentially leading to an increase in his WHIP and H/9 rate.

Just 2.1 IP into his latest start, last night at Boston, Price began to feel some discomfort in his left arm, telling ESPN.com that he didn’t start to feel anything until he was a few pitches into the 3rd inning. He’d quickly be pulled from the game and was sent for an MRI, which reportedly did not contain any “hot spots”. The team elected to play the situation smartly rather than try and push Price to remain in the rotation.

Alex Torres has been called up from Triple-A Durham to replace Price on the active roster.

Still under control through the next two seasons, Price has already begun to get expensive for the small market Rays and there has been plenty of speculation that the team could look to move him as early as this summer’s trade deadline. A prolonged injury could hinder how quickly an opposing team may be in offering up a significant package of prospects in return for the 27 year old, which could push any potential deals until this coming winter offseason.