Red Sox starter David Price spoke on several topics, including Mookie Betts’ pending free agency, during an interview with WBZ’s Jonny Miller in Fort Myers this week.

Miller sent the recording to MassLive.com.

Betts is eligible for free agency after the 2020 season. The 2018 AL MVP has made it clear he wants to test free agency instead of signing a contract extension.

“He’s said it multiple times, he’s going to go to the free agent market,” Price told Miller. "He’s not saying that he won’t sign with Boston once he hits free agency or anything like that. He’s earned his right to get there. And that’s something a lot of guys don’t get to experience at the big league level. As good as Chris Sale is, and the amount of money that he’s made and the contract he’s signed, Chris Sale was never a free agent. I think it’s under seven or eight percent of major league players get to that point in their career where they are a free agent. And Mookie’s earned that right. And he’s expressed that feeling he’s going to get to that point. And if he does, hopefully we can re-sign him.”

Price also addressed Brock Holt likely leaving the Red Sox via free agency this offseason. Holt remains unsigned but he’s likely headed elsewhere as Boston instead signed infielder José Peraza to a one-year, $3-million contract.

Miller suggested to Price that the Red Sox decided to move on from Holt because he’s too expensive.

“Nobody’s too expensive to sign for the Red Sox, first and foremost," Price replied. "So that’s not the case. Brock meant a lot to our team. He meant a lot to the fan base. All the work he did away from the field (with the Jimmy Fund), that will definitely be missed. But that was a decision I guess the front office needed to make. I’m sure Brock will find a good spot for him and he will contribute the way he has for us.”

The Red Sox are trying to cut payroll this offseason to get under the $208 million Competitive Balance Tax threshold, something that somewhat surprises Price.

“I mean, yeah. A little bit,” Price said. “I think all of this is kind of new to everybody in baseball right now. It’s never been something that we’ve seen from I guess a bunch of clubs trying to get under that luxury tax. But that’s the way it’s going right now. And we’ll see how that trend continues to go over the end of this offseason, going into the next couple of years.”

Price is right. More major market teams are trying to reset under the luxury tax every so many years. The 2016-21 Collective Bargaining Agreement gives financial motives to stay under.

Price is well aware his name has been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason.

“It doesn’t affect me,” Price told Miller. “I’m still coming up here Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, getting my work in. It doesn’t affect me. I’ve been traded from Tampa, from Detroit. I’ve been traded twice. It’s just part of the business. This is a business at the end of the day and changes are going to be made, moves will be made. And you’ve just got to go out there and continue to play baseball.”

Price, meanwhile, said he feels healthy.

“My arm and health are really good right now,” Price said. “I’ve been throwing for a little over a month. Just moved up to four times a week this week and everything feels really good.”