Apr 22, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price (14) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Minnesota Twins 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The MLB trade deadline is 11 days away which means it’s getting closer to decision time for Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman on whether or not to move star pitcher David Price.
If Friedman decides to move Price he certainly won’t have a shortage of suitors.
However, it seems that it’s the Seattle Mariners who are pushing the hardest to land Price.
It also appears as though they aren’t just stopping with Price either as they are very interested in acquiring Ben Zobrist in a deal too.
According to Ollie Connolly of MLB.com’s Outside Pitch, the M’s are willing to do anything to get Price and Zobrist.
Per source: the Mariners are throwing the 'kitchen sink' at Tampa Bay for David Price & Ben Zobrist
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) July 20, 2014
Any trade would be centered on Taijuan Walker going to Tampa, while other potential pieces include Nick Franklin, Dustin Ackley, James Paxton and D.J. Peterson among others.
If dealt to Seattle, Price doesn’t seem to be willing to commit long term to the Mariners, but that doesn’t seem to faze the M’s.
One team who would make a trade for Price if he’d sign an extension is the St. Louis Cardinals.
Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe writes, “The Cardinals have shown interest but would want a financial commitment, according to a major league source. Don’t rule out the Giants, who also have had interest in Ben Zobrist to solve their second base situation. The Rays, however, know they need top value in return.”
Any trade will require top return, perhaps even more than what the Rays got from Kansas City in the James Shields trade.