Could Andrew Friedman bring David Price to Dodgers?

Like rumors? OK, this isn’t really a rumor. More just speculation. Actually more like thinking out loud.

Which will never stop a dutiful Dodgers blogger with using it for a post in late October that finds the Boys in Blue in front of their TV screens like the rest of us.

This comes courtesy of the Detroit News’ Tony Paul, who while trying to figure the five -- a number fashionable with sports editors at the moment -- directions the Tigers could head this off-season, came up with an interesting No. 1.

Trade David Price.

Paul lists two likely landing spots should the Tigers decide to move the former Cy Young winner, and coming in first was the Dodgers. (The Red Sox was the other).

That’s interesting for several reasons: 1) The Dodgers were one of the teams involved in trade talks with the Tampa Rays for Price before he was ultimately dealt at the trading deadline to the Tigers; 2) the Rays general manager at the time was Andrew Friedman; and 3) last week Friedman was named the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations.

While in town Friday, Friedman was asked how close he came to trading Price to the Dodgers:

“You know, that’s a really interesting thing because I don’t comment about specific players and, like trade discussions, but I’m obviously not with the Rays anymore and David obviously didn’t get traded here. We had a lot of different conversations with teams. I don’t know how you can characterize ‘close’ until a deal gets done.”

When Friedman made the trade in Tampa, it was a surprise to absolutely no one. Dealing Price, 29, a year out from free agency, was in keeping with his small-market strategy.

“Simply said, standing pat makes it much, much more difficult for us to maintain a compelling, competitive team going forward,” Friedman told the Tampa Bay Times when the trade was announced. “That’s the reality of a low-revenue club. I think it’s obvious to anyone who follows the game that the economic disparity is only widening, and it makes it a little bit more challenging in our quest to always balance the present and the future. But we can’t waver from who we are and how we need to do things to have success.”

Now, of course, Friedman is on the other end of the economic disparity. Now he is with the big-revenue, big-spending Dodgers.

Could he actually reunite with Price here?

Don’t bet your Ned Colletti autographed cowboy boots on it. Paul said the Tigers would not want prospects for Price, but roster-ready players and could particularly use a center fielder. He suggests a Price for Matt Kemp deal, with the Dodgers picking up part of the $107 million still owed Kemp.

I’m thinking not.

Price turns 30 next season and Friedman has shown a distaste for older arms that cannot be simply written off because they cost more. He understands they also break down more. Plus, power -- in this post-steroid era -- is becoming highly valued.

Kemp may not have been all the way back from his multiple injuries by last season’s end, but he looked pretty close at the plate. And now he has his an off-season where he can concentrate on getting stronger and not just rehabbing from his latest surgery. And if not a major consideration, it still has to be noted he’s a fan favorite.

Price, who earned $14 million last season, is in the final year of the arbitration process and can become a free agent after the 2015 season. Paul believes he’s shown zero interest in returning to the Tigers, thus the incentive for trading him now.

He’ll be looking for a lot of years and a lot of dollars, which used to barely make the Dodgers blink. But they hung on to prospects rather than making a deal at the trade deadline last season and these Friedman-led Dodgers will have to prove all over again they are still willing to spend the major bucks.

They have extra outfielders and any team would like to have Price, so anything is possible. Which is a long ways from making it likely. These are supposed to be something of the “new” Dodgers under Friedman, but don’t think some seven years and $175 million for a pitcher in his 30s is what anyone had in mind.

Twitter: @stevedilbeck