David Price is the favorite to win the MLB American League Cy Young Award for his 2012 performance. Price came in second for the award in 2010.

Rays' pitching coach Jim Dickey thinks Price is the favorite and has a chance to be one of the game's best in the immediate future.

"We all know in our little kneck of the woods that he is quite that, but he is probably top five in the ball game with a chance to be the best for a number of years to come," Hickey said as a result of Price winning the Cy Young Award.

Price has certainly earned the consideration of the league after another impressive season under his belt. With exception to one or two others most everyone else pales in comparison to the gifted left-hander.

"It would mean a tremendous deal to him to win that Cy Young Award," Hickey said. "He wants to be the best in the game."

Although not definite, ESPN's MLB Cy Young predictor lists Price as the heavy favorite to win this year's award due to his league-low ERA and league-high 20 wins by a starting pitcher (tied with Jered Weaver).

Price has a "Cy Young predictor" score of 185.3. That's 14.5 points higher than the next in the ranking, Fernando Rodney. Rodney, Price's teammate in Tampa Bay, set the mark for the lowest ERA for a reliever with a 0.60 ERA in 76 appearances.

The award finalist lists will be announced on the evening of Wednesday, November 7, and the winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 14.