Tigers' David Price: 'I want to win here'

Detroit — If he had his druthers, David Price would like to see this season through with the Tigers. 

“I guess I'll kind of know one way or the other in a couple weeks, but yeah, I want to win here,” he said before the game Tuesday. “We have a very good team. This is hands down one of the most talented teams I've ever been a part of. 

“So, if we can just play baseball the way we are capable of playing, we will win games."

And, he said, if the Tigers can win games, maybe the trade talk will quiet down. Right now, though, as the Tigers remain 4.5 games out of a wild-card spot, the trade talk is raging.

President and general manager Dave Dombrowski has said no decision has been made as to whether the Tigers would be trading off free agents-to-be like Price and Yoenis Cespedes before the July 31 deadline. 

Yet, there have been reports — national and local — that the Tigers will be looking to trade those two players in particular. It is the second straight season Price has been the center of pre-trade deadline rumors.

"It's part of it,” he said. “If you have enough time in this league you are going to be a part of this at some point. So, you just have to tune it out as best you can and go about your business as normal."

Price said he has not had any conversations with Dombrowski about the situation. Back in February, the two mutually agreed not to discuss a long-term contract until after the season.

“Dave’s always in the clubhouse, always talking to me and stuff like that,” Price said. “If something was to happen, or whatever the scenario is, I don’t think I would be in the dark on that. He’s a very open guy. 

“I’m sure I could just go talk to him right now if I wanted to. I plan on the Tigers winning today, and reeling off a couple wins, and all this stuff can kind of quiet down a little bit.”

Price, like the rest of the clubhouse, is perplexed the Tigers are in this situation.

“With all of the talent we have in this room and as good a team as we feel we have, yeah, it's surprising,” he said. “We haven't played as well as we are capable of playing and everybody in here knows that. We continue to work hard, it just hasn't gone our way thus far.

“The next couple of weeks is very important for us. We plan on winning a lot of games."

The rumors, Price said, won’t be a distraction, but they could be a motivator.

“It can definitely send a message,” he said. “Absolutely. It heightens everyone’s awareness. It can be a good thing for us. Everybody in here understands how much talent we have in this clubhouse.

“We’re going to go out there, and — yesterday was a very good win for us, with Ian (Kinsler) coming through with that big hit off Mark Lowe. That’s the type of stuff we have to have happen right now. And not just from position players and hitters. Pitchers, we know as a group we have to throw the ball better. If everybody can just do their part, we will be successful.

Twitter @cmccosky