Price: 'I don't look at last year'

Don't expect David Price to reminisce at length about his 2016 season.

After signing a monstrous seven-year, $217-million contract with the Red Sox, Price failed to live up to expectations in his first Boston campaign, crafting a 3.99 ERA - his second-highest mark since 2009 - in 35 starts in 2016.

And he's not particularly interested in talking about it.

"I don't look at last year," Price told MLB.com's Ian Browne when asked about his mechanics compared to last season. "I'm focused on 2017."

The southpaw tried everything to get back on track in his up-and-down 2016, including taking tips on his delivery from observant teammates. For the upcoming season, though, Price has more a more specific idea of how his delivery should look.

"Like it did in 2012 when I won the Cy Young (Award)," he said.

Manager John Farrell blamed Price's disappointing debut season with Boston on first-year jitters, and the skipper says he's already noticed encouraging signs in the pitcher's mechanics this spring.

"He just looks more free and easy with his delivery, his ability to spin a curveball is more at his disposal now than it was this time last year when he first started in camp with us," Farrell said. "I think the fact that he's in year two and the newness of Boston is not there anymore, it doesn't put him in a position to take anything for granted, but just the more known commodity is helpful in this case."