A-Rod finds it odd to see David Price in Manny’s old jersey
David Price of the Boston Red Sox warms up prior to the start of the spring training game against the New York Yankees on March 15, 2016 at Jet Blue Park at Fenway South, Fort Myers, Florida. Credit: Getty Images / Leon Halip
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez looked at the man on the mound last night wearing a No. 24 Red Sox spring training jersey and did a double take.
David Price, the $217-million free-agent signee, was wearing Manny Ramirez’s old number.
“It’s kind of weird seeing him in Manny’s old jersey,” Rodriguez said. “That was strange. But same old David Price. He’s always tough, he’s always fun to face. Very predictable. Comes right at you every time.”
Rodriguez struck out looking twice against Price, who allowed one run in four innings in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory at JetBlue Park.
Price’s addition to the rotation should help Boston recover from last year’s last-place finish in the AL East. It should also add spice to a rivalry that is changing and will again after this season when David Ortiz retires.
“On this side, it’ll be a lot more fun [when Ortiz retires],” Rodriguez said. “I love Big Papi. I have a lot of respect for him. I think he’s been an incredible ambassador for the game. I’m looking forward to him leaving the game at a height — and for him to leave.”
Rodriguez and Ortiz were once close friends, but the relationship took a hit when one of A-Rod’s lawyers took a steroid-related shot at the Red Sox star during Rodriguez’s scorched-earth campaign against Major League Baseball.
Rodriguez, though, said of Ortiz: “I spoke to him today. I’m happy for him. He’s in a good place.”
Before the game, Ortiz told ESPN Deportes of the possibility of mending fences with A-Rod: “I am not worried about that. I’m fine, and I am at peace. I have always gotten along with everyone. I’ve never harmed anybody, not even those who have tried to do me harm. It’s not my problem. I will always love and respect Alex, because that is who I am, that’s in my nature. I’m a big bear. I give affection to everyone.”
Rodriguez also touched on several other Red Sox-related themes, including what adding Price will do for the rivalry.
“You never know,” he said. “It’s hard to kind of gauge that in Fort Myers or Tampa. Once it gets north, I think there’ll be some extra sizzle this year. Big Papi announced already it’s going to be his last year. Obviously, he’s one of our legends going out. And David Price, one of the game’s best pitchers. Should be exciting. They feel good about their team. We feel good about ours.
“They’ve been so good over the last [12 years], to win three championships . . . That’s pretty . . . good. We always have the same respect for them every year and that’s the utmost respect for them and every other team. I do think the East is going to be good this year. There’s a lot of parity in it.”
The Yankees’ place in the standings will be helped if Ivan Nova pitches as he did last night. Nova, who is battling CC Sabathia for the fifth spot in the rotation, allowed one runs in four innings and has a spring ERA of 2.00 after three outings.
“That’s his best outing so far for me,” manager Joe Girardi said. “He was facing a really good lineup and I thought he pitched really well.”
Boston’s run against Nova came on Ortiz’s double-play grounder in the first. Aaron Hicks homered off Price in the third. Bryan Mitchell pitched three shutout innings for the Yankees.
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
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