Rays' Price recants comments about Yankees' rules

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price backtracked Thursday on his comments that he wouldn't play for New York Yankees because of the team's ban on facial hair.

"It probably wasn't the best thing to say, but I didn't mean anything by it," Price said. "I wasn't looking to offend the Yankees. It's probably the best organization in all of sports. Not just baseball, but all of sports.

"I didn't mean anything (against) the New York Yankees. I've had friends on that team for multiple years."

The Yankees have a rule against facial hair, causing big name players Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and, most recently, Kevin Youkilis, to do so.

"I wouldn't stay there very long then," Price said Tuesday. "I wouldn't sign a long-term deal there. Those rules, that's old-school baseball. I was born in '85. That's not for me. That's not something I want to be a part of."

Price, 27, won the AL Cy Young last season, going 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 205 strikeouts in 211 innings.